Research presentation
The Performance of Civility: Exiting Stage Left
A Conversation About Authenticity, Power, and Possibility
Watch The Performance of Civility: Exiting Stage Left — a provocative exploration of how “niceness” has been weaponized in organizations and what it takes to build cultures grounded in truth, trust, and transformation.
In this hour-long presentation, I share research and findings in partial fulfillment of requirements for my degree at USC: Master of Science in Applied Psychology (Industrial & Organizational and Consumer Psychology treatise): The Performance of Civility: Exiting Stage Left.
Get access to the full videoAbout the Study
This work began in June/July of 2024 with the literature review through September of 2025 with the completion of interviews, writing of results, and approval from two faculty readers. The study explores how Black professionals are navigating workplace experiences in an era of overt DEI retrenchment and rising political hostility. Through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants across industries, I examine:
- How societal and political narratives filter into organizations and shape workplace realities
- How Black professionals evaluate the authenticity of DEI commitments
- How shifts in DEI policies influence belonging, psychological safety, and career decisions
- What workplace conditions and commitments attract Black professionals seeking values-aligned, healthier environments
The one-hour video presents both the research context and participant voices, highlighting the strategies, choices, and values guiding career navigation in this climate.
While existing literature has documented organizational inequities, this study contributes by centering Black professionals’ agency, decision-making, and frameworks for discernment. This recording was created to share with those who are curious, invested, or recommended to view it.
The video is not publicly searchable and should be approached as part of an ongoing conversation about equity, justice, and the future of work.
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