Angry. Black. Female. Stereotype or personal microaggressions? 

She came in 1998 and saw her first black Chief Master Sergeant in 2012 on a deployment...

It's time to hear from a 21-year vet in the Active Duty game who reminds us that "it's OK to be a froot loop in a world full of cheerios."      

She identifies herself by her faith first, then her race, and lastly her gender and service in the US Air Force.   Her background from the projects did not prepare her for the racial and cultural diversity in the Air Force (and yes, we break down project culture vs military culture for those who are unfamiliar), but her strength in mathematics did land her in a mathematics-centric, but white male dominated Civil Engineer career field. 

Early lessons at Minot and Little Rock Air Force bases added to the culture shock of this black female who had grown up in the very locations deemed unsafe and unofficially off limits to Airmen who look like her.  She speaks about her first time making a friend who looks racially different than she does and how the combination of her friend's inner-city upbringing meshed well with her own background as they both battled preferential treatment of a white male counterpart in their workplace.  Not to be forgotten though, we talk about the beneficial lessons taught by white males to black females that allow some to keep their personality while serving professionally. 

We also chat about her trifecta of minority status with a category not often discussed in the Air Force, the RELIGIOUS minority...how are you accepted in a Friday night, drinking culture while staying true to your religious convictions? There is a way to do it.

When there's a seat at the table, she encourages people like her to show up, be heard and be a boss!  

Talk with my friend, MSgt LaShandra Denson (Retired).

Come, join this conversation!

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