Discrimination in Plain Sight
In this unfiltered and deeply personal episode of the BFF Empowerment Podcast, your host Blaque Diamond shares a jaw-dropping true story of workplace discrimination she endured as a blind professional. After proudly being crowned Ms. Altruistic 2025 in the 9th Annual Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant, Blaque Diamond opens up about a painful but powerful experience with the North Carolina Department of Revenue, where her job offer was rescinded solely due to her blindness.
This episode exposes the harsh truth behind employment discrimination, ableism in the workplace, and the systemic barriers faced by blind and visually impaired professionals. Blaque Diamonds doesn't just recount her experience—she takes you on the emotional rollercoaster of fighting back legally, navigating retaliation, and ultimately reclaiming her power by walking away and starting anew in a space where she’s valued.
Key topics discussed:
- Why 70–85% of blind and visually impaired people are unemployed or underemployed
- The psychological toll of isolation, tokenism, and forced invisibility at work
- Why “equal opportunity employer” is often just a legal checkbox, not a reality
- The power of resilience, self-worth, and advocacy in the face of systemic injustice
- A spoken word performance of Bianca’s moving poem, Modern Day Rosa Parks
💬 “I wasn’t asking for sympathy. I was asking for opportunity.”
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in disability rights, workplace equity, inclusion, accessibility, civil rights, and employment law. It’s also an empowering reminder that blindness does not equal brokenness, and no one should be silenced, sidelined, or underestimated.
📣 Connect & Contribute:
Share your own experience with employment discrimination by emailing BFFEmpowerment@gmail.com
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