ABA While Black: The Impact of Racism and Performative Allyship on Black Behaviorists in the Workplace and on Social Media

Sylvain et al. (2022) sent a survey to Black BCBAs. They asked how racism and fake allyship showed up at work and on social media after police brutality events.

The survey let Black behaviorists tell their own stories in their own words.

Black BCBAs said white coworkers posted black squares and statements online, then stayed silent at work when racist things happened.

Many felt more hurt by the silence than by the original racist acts.

Machalicek et al. (2022) gives you a next step. Their self-management plan turns the pain Sylvain found into daily action. You pick one antiracist behavior, track it, and reinforce yourself for doing it.

Payne et al. (2020) warned us that almost no studies used ABA tools to fight racism. Sylvain's 2022 data fills that gap with real BCBA voices.

Najdowski et al. (2021) told schools to add antiracist content to grad programs. Sylvain's findings show why this can't wait—Black BCBAs are hurting now.

You can't fix what you don't measure. Start by asking your Black coworkers the same questions Sylvain used. Write down what they say. Then pick one small change you can track daily, like speaking up when you hear a microaggression. Share your data with your team each week. Real allyship is a behavior, not a post.