A Black non-binary arts professional asks Karamo for career advice while on a break from work. Karamo stresses knowing yourself deeply and what you won't accept, building community with people who share your struggles, and never settling for less than you deserve.
My question's about career. I'm a Black non-binary person. I work in the arts field. I find myself running into issues primarily, you know, with these predominantly white institutions, not really being valued. And I'm at a place in my life where I'm able to kind of step back and take stock. I'm fun-employed at the moment. And so I—
What fun-employed mean? You said not unemployed, fun-employed. Funemployed. What's funemployed?
But so I'm able to take some time and figure out my next steps.
Okay, that mean you got a little coin, you got an savings. Exactly, I got a little, I got a little something. Okay, so you ain't struggling. Oh, I like that, funemployed. All right, I get that, okay.
But so I guess I'm asking, you know, as a successful black person yourself, what were some key moments in your career, building up your career, that you were able to make these decisions or try to figure out how to navigate the world? The world that we live in?
[Speaker] Well, it's still, I'm still navigating. I'm gonna be very honest with you. And as a successful gay Black man, the first time, who first one ever in this space in daytime talk show, you know what I mean? I say that and I say that not to brag, but I say that because as Black folks or people of color, we constantly know what it's like to have to be the one still in 2024, 2025 to be knocking down doors and open 'em up from other people. And what I think I have learned the most for myself is what I can see in you, is I'm true to myself. And the first thing is that when you know who you are, you know what you will not accept. And it allows you to be clear about how you move through life. So I always tell people, if you're in any field you're in, in any part of your life where you're trying to go through, learn first of who you are. Be clear about it. And sometimes that means writing it down. Like, who am I? Because the more you know who you are, you walk into a room and you say, nope, I'm not gonna accept that because that's not for me. Nope, we're not gonna do that. But then secondly, it's also about finding community. I am quick to find in any space I'm in, especially predominantly white spaces in careers where I have to say, hold on, who around me that get my struggle? Hold on, who is it? And I build us up, I build us up and I say, you know what, we're together. And this is no disrespect to anyone else in that. There's no disrespect to somebody white, you know what I mean? But it's for me, it's saying you have some things and some privileges that I didn't have. And so I need to make sure that other people around me who that when I feel down when I feel like not seen, who can say, I feel you, I see you, I'm here with you, that I can connect with. And then I use that community and I use my identity to say, how can we build together to keep getting to the next place? And one of the biggest things I do is I'm like, if somebody come up, we coming up together. I'm helping you, you helping me or whatever. And so I say these things to you, not really for you, it's really for somebody at home, somebody at home, or somebody at home. Because I can already see you know that. You already understand and see what it is. And so what I wanna say to you is just keep never settling. What is for you is coming. That next opportunity, that next great career move is coming for you. I can see in the confidence, in the way you standing here, you a boss. And I just wanna let you know that enjoy your fun employment. That's what it, funploiment? What is it? Funploiment?
Yeah, funploiment.
Funploiment, okay, funploid. Okay, enjoy this moment. Because what you're doing in this moment is finding peace in your heart. You're finding clarity and you're gonna get it. What's coming for you is coming for you. And if it doesn't, find community and all of us are here to support. You know what I mean? Yeah.
Thank you.
You got it. I tell y'all, there is no question that I love talking with my audience. So I want y'all to come join us. So I'll save a seat for you. I'm telling y'all it's a good time here. And if you got a Q of K, you bring the Q. I'll keep bringing the cake. Come join us, come on, come join us.
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