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Anchored in Bias: Fired Over "White Tears"
In this timely book, journalist Lisa Benson shares her journey from the newsroom to the courtroom in her fight for justice at a local television station.
Lisa made national news when her twenty-year career as a news reporter / anchor ended abruptly after she shared an article on her personal Facebook page entitled, "How White Women Use Strategic Tears to Avoid Accountability" written by fellow journalist Ruby Hamad-an article that offended two of her white female coworkers, which ultimately got her fired.
After being terminated for sharing TheGuardian.com article, Lisa committed herself to understanding racism, unconscious biases, institutionalized racism, and how those issues factored into her stagnant career and job loss.
In this book, courtroom testimony, along with exhibits, prove that the employer expected to support Lisa's career goals only wanted to harness and control her labor while silencing her voice.
Guilty of racial ignorance, Lisa foolishly believed that if she worked hard, played by the rules, and people liked her, she could avoid the racial pitfalls that swallowed the dreams of her forefathers and condemned others to a life of criminalization, poverty, and shame.
She was wrong.
Lisa's book is a powerful, transparent look at the racism, systemic racism, and the anti-blackness that exists in cities, neighborhoods, and newsrooms throughout the United States.
Lisa made national news when her twenty-year career as a news reporter / anchor ended abruptly after she shared an article on her personal Facebook page entitled, "How White Women Use Strategic Tears to Avoid Accountability" written by fellow journalist Ruby Hamad-an article that offended two of her white female coworkers, which ultimately got her fired.
After being terminated for sharing TheGuardian.com article, Lisa committed herself to understanding racism, unconscious biases, institutionalized racism, and how those issues factored into her stagnant career and job loss.
In this book, courtroom testimony, along with exhibits, prove that the employer expected to support Lisa's career goals only wanted to harness and control her labor while silencing her voice.
Guilty of racial ignorance, Lisa foolishly believed that if she worked hard, played by the rules, and people liked her, she could avoid the racial pitfalls that swallowed the dreams of her forefathers and condemned others to a life of criminalization, poverty, and shame.
She was wrong.
Lisa's book is a powerful, transparent look at the racism, systemic racism, and the anti-blackness that exists in cities, neighborhoods, and newsrooms throughout the United States.
188 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2020
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 30, 2021
Most interesting was how the repetitiveness in telling this story really served the overall credibility of the account. Anyone who’s ever worked for a company and seen people come in behind them, with less credentials and experience, but receive not only the sweet assignments… and promotions, but assignments and promotions you’ve been seeking for years, will understand Lisa’s disappointment and frustration. This is a very good memoir. Highly recommended.
Want to read
June 25, 2023Referenced in Ruby Hamad's "White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color."
July 14, 2020
3.5
First, I must say it's incredibly surreal to read a book featuring people you worked with and a situation you witnessed. There's a lot I could say on that, but I'll refrain because the internet is forever.
This is a very thorough account of Lisa's racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against our former station and the situations that led to her pursuing legal action. If you enjoy courtroom stories, you'll enjoy this. While it's not my cup of tea, I did read this book quickly to learn many of the details we could not discuss after her firing.
My issue was the frequent repetition slowing the pace, which could've been fixed with a good editor. (But maybe I'm biased because that used to be part of our working relationship... lol).
First, I must say it's incredibly surreal to read a book featuring people you worked with and a situation you witnessed. There's a lot I could say on that, but I'll refrain because the internet is forever.
This is a very thorough account of Lisa's racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against our former station and the situations that led to her pursuing legal action. If you enjoy courtroom stories, you'll enjoy this. While it's not my cup of tea, I did read this book quickly to learn many of the details we could not discuss after her firing.
My issue was the frequent repetition slowing the pace, which could've been fixed with a good editor. (But maybe I'm biased because that used to be part of our working relationship... lol).
October 25, 2020
What a challenging experience. I appreciate lisa sharing this experience. The writing was the reason I gave it only 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews