When Sabrina Madison shared a controversial Facebook post on her page, she didn’t expect a urry of over 300 responses that caused an online debate. “It was about the Madonna-whore complex,” Madison shares. “We were arguing about it. Then I suggested we get together and discuss it in-person.” The instance inspired Conversation Mixtape, a popular discussion group for black men and women to converse face-to-face about common or uncomfortable issues. The group is just one of the ways Madison, known as Heymiss Progress, works to improve relations in the black community. “When you live in a place with racial micro-aggression, disparity and violence, it can feel like there isn’t any genuine effort to improve the wellbeing of minorities,” Madison says. One factor is the disconnect between black citizens with each other. She’s found African-Americans who have lived in the area for decades but never met others in the community. Lacking this collaborative network can hinder professional and personal growth. Madison also hopes she can introduce new information and access to resources for blacks, especially women aspiring for positions of leadership. Many are not aware of the tools available that can assist them with career growth, nancial planning and overall wellness. Black females can be overlooked for leadership roles and in uential positions because they are disregarded by the majority community at times. Madison wants to empower women to try for these positions in order to shift the norm and create new opportunities for the demographic. “I hope my own success can motivate other black women to take a risk on themselves,” Madison says. “Black people have to be careful not to start believing the stereotypes they hear about themselves.” Fi ght i ng Misconcept i ons
“I hope my own success can motivate other black women to take a risk on themselves.” -Sabrina Madison
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