Augsburg Fortress

First and Only: What Black Women Say About Thriving at Work and in Life

First and Only: What Black Women Say About Thriving at Work and in Life

"Essential reading." --Marie Claire

First and Only is a guide for every Black woman who has found herself closing the cover on other business leadership books, convinced that something is missing. We are looking for roadmaps to on-the-job success while also acknowledging the unique barriers that Black women face in the workplace: hostile work environments, being perceived as the Angry Black Woman, being asked to do more for less than our white colleagues. But we can heal, fight for our liberation, and succeed in business and in our lives. In these pages, you will find a love letter to Black women that connects our personal growth and inner healing and the fight for liberation.

Trainer and activist Jennifer R. Farmer offers practical strategies for how to thrive in workplaces that can be ambivalent about Black women's success, as well as tips and stories from psychologists, activists, and organizational experts that equip us to lead others and heal past wounds. Learn to shed fear and embrace courage and vulnerability. Our path to success includes a commitment to self-care, spiritual growth, and a willingness to push for progress even as we fight for our own liberation. First and Only is not just about how to lean in, or how to discover the irrefutable laws of leadership. It's also about healing so that we can sustain work for justice and equity. It's about finding personal and social redemption--and leading other Black women to it, too.

The paperback edition includes an added preface, a discussion guide, and a Q&A with the author.

  • In stock
  • Kindle - Nook - Google
  • Quantity discount
    • # of Items Price
    • 1 to 9$16.99
    • 10 or more$12.74

$16.99

  • Publisher Broadleaf Books
  • Format Paperback
  • ISBN 9781506485164
  • eBook ISBN 9781506485553
  • Dimensions 5.5 x 8.5
  • Pages 231
  • Publication Date July 26, 2022

Endorsements

"First and Only must be considered essential reading not only for Black women but for people who work with Black women. There are lessons to be learned in every chapter. . . . May you find yourself in the pages of this book. May you see yourself in all your beauty and perfection. May you recognize your greatness. May you discover that which you need to thrive at work and in life. I know I have."

Nina Turner, from the Foreword

"Jennifer R. Farmer writes a much-needed love letter to Black women looking to thrive at work and in life. First and Only is an essential resource for any career toolkit."

Minda Harts, author of The Memo

"Jennifer R. Farmer is a hell of a coach, and if she is detailing what Black women are experiencing in workplaces, we should listen and then take action."

Michael Render, songwriter, activist, and rapper professionally known as Killer Mike

"Jennifer R. Farmer could run a boot camp for emerging women leaders. Her coaching exudes urgency, confidence, and care. If anyone can create a trusted road map for Black women in the workplace, she can."

Rev. Dr. Brianna K. Parker, Black Millennial Cafe

"Jennifer R. Farmer is an amazing voice in empowering powerful communications and storytelling to shift the narrative. A brilliant thinker with a knack for eliminating waste, she creates strategies that leverage resources for the maximal impact while cradling the sacredness of one's message. An important and necessary soul for the journey around this nation, proclaiming a new story rooted in equity and inclusion."

Rev. Ben McBride, co-director, PICO California

"Jennifer R. Farmer is an insightful listener and observer of human interaction. She uses her insights to speak directly to the core issues impacting leadership. Her analysis perceptively integrates gender, race, religion, and overall worldview to offer more nuanced understandings of leadership than the one-size-fits-all approaches more commonly promoted."

Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, author; Clergy in Residence, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

"Jennifer R. Farmer brings a wealth of expertise and a high degree of emotional intelligence to her leadership. She's the kind of leader that other leaders like me want to emulate."

Rev. Katey Zeh, Interim Executive Director, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

"Jennifer R. Farmer fuses creativity with a practical and empathetic approach to solving some of the thorniest issues. Our workplaces, our world, would benefit from hearing more from her."

Meghan Dotter, founder of Portico PR

Reviews

"Essential reading."
Marie Claire

"Farmer examines the workplace for people of color, specifically Black women, and offers strategies on how to be successful."
The Wall Street Journal's Business and Diversity Newsletter

2