Job Hunting as a Black Journalist, in The Age of Trump

When I started taking this writing stuff seriously the goals weren’t at all driven by the need to get paid well for my efforts, and that was definitely an error in judgment.

I was still in the bubble of that much-needed “exposure” and the thrill of viewing my published words that carried the desired value to warrant comments, praises and curses from readers who evidently took the time to do something that fewer and fewer folks are willing to do these days.

Even when the Medium Partner Program made its grand debut a couple of years ago, I was reluctant to make major revisions to my writing schedule. It took the personal email from a member of the marketing team to coax me into giving it a try.

I had spent the previous four years brushing up on my skills, and learning the ropes of the editorial world in ways that elevated my game.

After joining the platform by invitation in the summer of 2013, my beloved editor of the best “Collection” featured on Medium — Culture Club, before it became Those People — endearingly took me under her wing and unearthed the truth teller that I always strive to be — without filters.

Suddenly, I was given permission to exert the fearlessness that was waiting to be nurtured through the testimonies of personal struggles and…