Busting the Myth of Meritocracy

“Meritocracy is a myth. It suggests that your success is based solely on your work ethic, your grit, your resilience, your ability to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and go make something of yourself,” John says. “I would suggest that there has [historically] been no one who has worked harder in this country than a Black American, and yet the outcomes don’t reflect that.”

John Graham Jr. is VP of Global Employer Branding, Diversity and Culture at Shaker Recruitment Marketing and an HBCU graduate. He is dedicated to improving the lived experiences of marginalized employee populations and is the author of Plantation Theory: The Black Professional's Struggle Between Freedom and Security

In this week’s show, he talks about the challenges that Black professionals face in corporate America. He shares insights about ushering in a new era of DE&I, moving from compliance to lived experiences.

Tune in to listen to John, and then let us know: do you think meritocracy is a myth?

Please share your thoughts in the comments.