I recently learned of the Pet to Threat phenomenon which pithily characterizes a form of racism in the workplace specifically endured by Black women. Pet to threat remarkably parallels dynamics of narcissistic abuse in which the survivor is idolized, then devalued or discarded. While a pet, a Black woman is idolized: fawned over and given extra attention. This is an experience that recognizes potential within the construct of the Black token. The racialization of performance in this phase is important: a slight reworking & iteration of the racism behind delighted acknowledgement of Black intelligence perceivable to the White gaze ( e.g. “you’re so articulate!”)

Black women and Black non-binary people are at an intersection of marginalized experience that lends itself to more readily identifying & speaking up about ethical issues in the workplace. As they gain confidence, communicate and assert boundaries, address implicit rules & norms, they “transform” into a threat. The word “transform” is in quotes because Black women only appear to transform, when in fact they carry always a threatening potential that by their very Blackness, they may disturb white cultural and intellectual norms endemic to professional cultures. At this juncture, their experience mirrors narcissistic abuse: the threat is devalued through censure, penalties, or is overlooked.

I would argue that in today’s post-George Floyd political climate, marked by urgent attempts to simultaneously whitewash and perform authenticity regarding racial equity, the Black woman participating honestly in these dialogues is more vulnerable to the abusive elevation and demotion of the pet/threat process than ever.

A sometimes non-linear oscillation from pet to threat, Pet and the Threat embodies two sides of the same coin: the highly-conditional and probationary nature of Black feminine access to professional life.

Thumbnail image from pxfuel.com