Hello Brethren,
I recently stepped into tech, specifically sales and marketing. A big part of my role is social media management, and that often means posting in groups and communities from my personal account.
Many of these spaces are predominantly white, a lot of them German Facebook groups and communities. In these spaces, a personal photo is almost a requirement. It shows there’s a real person behind the post, builds trust and credibility, and keeps you from looking like just another spam account.
But I’ll be honest about my struggle. I feel insecure about it.
Every time I think about putting my face out there, a quiet fear shows up. I worry that my black skin will count against me. I worry that my picture will reduce trust instead of building it, and that people will scroll past or doubt me before they read a single word I’ve written.
What bothers me even more is that I feel this way as a believer. I know my identity isn’t defined by my skin colour or by anyone’s acceptance. I know my worth was settled long before I joined any group. Yet in these moments the fear still seems to speak louder than what I know.
So I’m bringing it to this room:
- Has anyone in tech dealt with this, especially in spaces where you’re visibly the minority?
- How did you get past the fear of being seen as you are?
- Practically, how have you built credibility in these communities without hiding who you are?
I’d really value your thoughts, your experiences and your counsel.
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One of my greatest fears is that there's no room for dark skin in my own space. As a Nigeria content creator (on youtube), one of my greatest fears is showing my face as the face behind my faceless YouTube channels. I was like, will people still watch me, will people outside Nigeria be willing to watch this black guy, so I decided to go faceless until i'm forced based on instruction to start showing my face out there no matter how I sound or how I look, in between Youtube also forced me to do that after 2 of my channels are at the verge of me loosing them.
Thank you for for sharing your experience
It's good to know I'm not the only one on this table
Great thoughts here. Thank you for sharing.
I've had similar experience, and I know I'll still have more of it.
One thing for me is to engage our spirit and mind in obeying Joshua 1:8-9, which says Josh.1.9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
My sister, I cannot particularly say that I can relate with your struggles because I'm not on such platforms. But just like it has already been said, our identity is not in our skin colour. In fact, our skin colour is a gift to us and the whole human race. It is the enemy that has made it look like our colour is a curse and it's because he always likes to go ahead to pervert men's thought towards what is beautiful and a gift from God. So, we're blessed that we have this skin color and we trust the Lord to help us appreciate that which He has given us more than whatever the world thinks or has to say.
Thank you so much Eva❤️