100 ROSES FROM CONCRETE

Years in the industry: 5 to 10

Linkedin Profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/askjoshuadavid/

Location: NYC

How I rose from concrete...

As a black man working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles as the Social Media Director of EBONY Magazine, I have had some of the most uncomfortable situations that take place. As a 28-year-old with a Director position for the oldest black publication in America the rooms I was gained access to didn't have many people my age. More than once did I experience situations where mostly white women and some white men who weren't even security would ask me for my identification at events as high profile as The Grammys, Oscars, Met Gala. I have had experiences with black publicists ignoring black publications and taking their black talent to only white publications. I have witnessed on more than one occasion female white publicists verbally state "minor racist passive-aggressive statements" black women and myself on the red carpet when we would notify them that we can only interview black talent. I have been threatened by black men who served in C level roles that were triggered by legal actions I had to take when I wasn't paid for my work. It has been quite the experience, to say the least. Here I am this first generation Haitian American who grew up in the suburbs of Coral Springs, FL where I was the only black kid in all my classes, raised to have a great deal of low self-esteem and identity, to then grow up self-actualized and confident in who I am, to then be in 2019 attacked left, right, up and down micro and macro level not only by white America but also black corporate America. If it wasn't for an intense amount of mental health, reading, yoga, and devoted spiritual practice, I am not sure if I would still be alive right now. The pressures as a Black man in this country are so incredibly high and yet we don't talk about it because as "the black man" or "the super predator" or "the athlete" I am to not have emotions or be impacted by things. I am a beast, monster or told to "shut up and play ball." Yet, here I stand stronger, smarter & more confident to continue speaking about my truths. I understand that I need to go against the grain & build my own while also playing into the system when I need to excel. I am realizing the power of building a brotherhood/sisterhood mentorship with people that look like me, I am realizing the lack of self-care men my age are not doing and how I can impact a change.