Jennifer R. Farmer is a writer, trainer, and activist communicator whose work delves into themes of faith, leadership development, and issues of gender and race. Her writing has appeared in prominent publications, exploring the unique challenges faced by Black women in professional settings. As the founder of Spotlight PR LLC, she leverages her expertise to help organizations and leaders committed to social and racial justice stand out in the media landscape. Farmer's insights into the intersection of politics, advocacy, and media have been instrumental in amplifying the voices of those she supports.
Rena is 17 and nothing gets to her. Not even when her parents kick her out and
her older brother has to take her abroad with him. In Uganda, at a school for
ex-child soldiers, she meets Alice, a girl her own age who has seen and done
worse than Rena ever did. As friendship develops, so does the risk of
betrayal.
As Black women, we have to work twice as hard to be perceived as half as skilled. We have to work until August of this year to earn what a white man made by last December. We are besieged by racist and sexist bullying online. People feel free to touch and comment on our hair--and then ask us why we seem so angry.First and Only is a guide for every woman who has found herself closing the cover on other leadership books that omit our true experiences and strengths. In these pages, trainer and activist Jennifer R. Farmer helps readers learn what is required for the long haul of liberation by providing a roadmap to on-the-job success, challenging systemic racism, and seeking inner healing through the sustaining power of faith. She offers practical strategies for Black women to thrive in workplaces that can be ambivalent about their success, as well as tips and stories from psychologists, activists, and organizational experts that equip Black women to lead others and heal past wounds.The path for success for Black women 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 about how to heal so you can sustain work for justice and equity. It's about finding personal and social redemption--and leading others to find it too.