The Mask of Professionalism: A Construct of Power

They tell us to tuck in our shirts, to watch our tone, to be "professional." But what does that mean? Who decides what is professional and what is not?

Professionalism, as it stands, is no neutral force. It was crafted, polished, and wielded to keep some in power and others in line. It is a mask designed not just to silence but to reshape. It demands that Black and brown bodies shrink themselves, that their voices soften, that their culture be pressed down, squeezed out, until nothing remains but an image the dominant class deems "acceptable."

Du Bois called it double consciousness, that constant tension between being Black and being seen as an American. Today, in courtrooms and boardrooms, in law firms and lecture halls, the script remains the same. Professionalism is a measuring stick, but its markings shift depending on who holds it. Whose norms do we follow? Whose comfort is centered? Who gets to be themselves without penalty? The demand for professionalism, when unchecked, is the demand for conformity. We will speak with the fullness of our voices. We will carry our culture with pride. We will challenge the false gods of "objectivity" and "neutrality," exposing them as tools of control.

They say professionalism is about decorum, respectability, and maintaining a high standard. But whose standard? Who defines what is "acceptable" in a courtroom, a boardroom, or the halls of Congress? Professionalism is a mask crafted by the powerful, to control the marginalized. It dictates whose voices are heard and whose are silenced, whose culture is celebrated and whose must be subdued.

U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett knows this firsthand. When she speaks with fire and conviction, they call her "hood" or says she is "acting hood" not because she lacks intelligence or preparation, but because she dares to be an outspoken Black woman in a space not designed for her. The criticism she faces is not about professionalism; it is about power. Conservative pundit Todd Starnes, for instance, claimed she was "cosplaying a gangsta" because she attended elite schools, attempting to delegitimize her outspoken political style as inauthentic and performative. The Congresswoman is simply being her authentic self, a young black woman in politics fiercely fighting for the voices of her constituents.

The word hood was born out of an expression for community, for struggle, for survival. But in the hands of the powerful, it has become a weapon. Instead of representing resilience and authenticity, hood is now used to police, to stereotype, and to silence. When Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks with fire, they don’t call her passionate, they call her hood or unprofessional. When she refuses to be meek in the face of disrespect, they don’t call her strong, they call her hood. The term is not just a description; it is an accusation. It suggests that her behavior is out of place in the halls of Congress, that her authenticity is a threat to the decorum of power.

You know what I hear, when they call Congresswoman Crockett hood ? I hear too Black, too bold, too unapologetic. It is a label designed to push Black and Brown people into a box where their raw, unfiltered humanity is framed as unprofessional or unacceptable.

What is professionalism if not a carefully curated set of behaviors designed to maintain power structures? The expectation that Black women must either be soft-spoken or risk being labeled unprofessional reveals how this construct is inherently racialized. When white politicians engage in fiery debate, they are praised for their passion and leadership. When Black women do the same, they are deemed aggressive, hood, unfit for office, out of control​ or looked over.

Jasmine Crockett is not playing a role, she is a Black woman representing her constituents with conviction. The real issue is not where she went to school, nor how she speaks, but that she dares to be visible, vocal, and unwilling to shrink herself for the comfort of others.

So, let’s call professionalism what it often is, a tool of exclusion. It is a mold designed not for fairness, but for control. And yet, as Crockett and so many before her have shown, Black women do not need permission to lead. We are not here to conform. We are here to be heard and taken seriously without having to flex to the standards of others.

Here are 9 ways professionalism has been used as a racial construct to police Black identity and expression:

1. AAVE in the Workplace – Black employees who speak in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) are often told their speech is "unprofessional," even when it does not impact their work. Meanwhile, non-Black people who adopt Black slang are seen as trendy or charismatic.

2. Hair Discrimination – Black employees have been fired or denied jobs for wearing natural hairstyles, locs, or braids. The CROWN Act had to be introduced to make such discrimination illegal.

3. Code-Switching Expectations – Black professionals feel pressured to change their speech, tone, or expressions to fit corporate or political norms that favor white linguistic patterns.

4. "Aggressive" Labeling – When Black women like Rep. Jasmine Crockett speak passionately, they are called aggressive or "hood," while white counterparts are seen as "strong leaders."

5. Tattoos and Piercings – Professionalism standards often allow for subtle tattoos on white professionals while viewing similar body art on Black professionals as unprofessional or "thuggish."

6. Dress Code Disparities – Black professionals are more likely to be reprimanded for wearing "informal" clothing, even if it aligns with business casual dress codes.

7. Emotional Policing – When Black professionals express frustration or passion, they are accused of being unprofessional, whereas white counterparts can display the same emotions without repercussion.

8. The "Diversity Hire" Stereotype – Black professionals who achieve success are often accused of benefiting from affirmative action rather than being recognized for their skills.

9. Speech and Tone Policing – Black leaders are told to "calm down" or "be more diplomatic" when advocating for issues that impact their communities, while white leaders can be forceful without the same scrutiny.

   
   

Professionalism, when weaponized, is a mask. But we are done wearing it. We will not shrink. We will not soften. We will not be silent. Be you. Show up as your WHOLE self every time.

U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett