Refinery29 Editor-In-Chief Resigns as Employees Speak out on Racism and Racial Disparity
The editor-in-chief of Refinery29, Christene Barberich, has announced her resignation following revelations of racial discrimination in the workplace.
Taking to Instagram, Barberich said that after taking in “the raw and personal accounts of Black women and women of color” at Refinery29, she was stepping down to “help diversify our leadership in editorial and ensure this brand and the people it touches can spark a new defining chapter.”
The move came as employees shed light on racial discrimination they’ve faced in the workplace. In one heartbreaking tweet, a former employee called out the female-focused website as a “toxic company culture where white women’s egos ruled the near nonexistent editorial processes.” It sadly echoes other employees’ stories of racist microaggressions and unequal pay.
Hey @Refinery29, cool blacked out homepage! But you know what real allyship looks like? Paying your Black employees fairly, having Black women in top leadership positions & addressing the microagressions your Black employees deal with from management on a daily basis.
— Ashley Alese Edwards (@AshleyAlese) June 2, 2020
Refinery29 was acquired by Vice Media Group which, according to its CEO Nancy Dubuc, has around a 60% white employee base. It’s a glaring reminder of the racial disparities in the workplace and the pressing need for workforce diversity. As Barberich says, “We have to do better, and that starts with making room“.
Spurred by movements like #PullUpOrShutUp, there have been growing calls for businesses to publicize their numbers of Black employees to spotlight those not doing enough to facilitate Black leadership.
We can never do too much to promote equality of opportunity. We can all use our voices to maintain the momentum behind movements like #PullUpOrShutUp and become advocates of racial equality in the workplace and beyond.
