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ANTYWAYS, HI! I’m Jesse Sparks. I write, edit, tweet, and make truly atrocious dad jokes. For the last two and a half years, I’ve worked as an editorial assistant for BA but really did more than the title let’s on.That all ended on Friday, August 7. (A thread)
I started out as a full-time freelancer making $20/hr despite trying to negotiate for more. I took the job because I was working in a previous role that wasn’t going to bring me on in a substantial way, no matter how much I overworked or tried to over deliver.
My wonderful friend Aliza rec’d me for the job but gave me a heads up that things weren’t perfect but that there were people there who were really trying in spite of it. I was made to feel lucky to be chosen (despite the fact that my credentials speak for themselves).
Over the first year, I hustled. I showed up early, stayed late, edited myself and how I navigated the office, took on responsibilities that weren’t technically in my job description, and kept the complaining minimal. The type of things Black freelancers often get pressured to do.
When Twitter dragged that full-time freelance Epi role, my requests for additional compensation were suddenly heard (which was interesting bc that role and the plethora of responsibilities it had was just a fraction of the work I was doing).
It was then that I got a “raise” from $38,400 to $40,000, from permalance to full time. It was frustrating and felt like a slap in the face, but what made it bearable and worth staying were the people I was getting to work with and the projects I got to work on.
Once I’d figured out how to strike the right balance of charm and humor when pitching to sections and rubrics no one really cared about, my pitches suddenly started getting approved. I got to make sure more people of color, specifically black and brown, were getting into the mag.
As the writers and editors and the subjects! I pitched, albeit a bit clumsily at first, bright eyed packages and stories and new takes on gift guides. Then, I started executing, all while still processing 4 other people’s expenses and helping with even more.
I knew I was being expected to take on more and contribute in different ways than the other EAs (who all advocated for me both when I was in and out of the room). I advocated for them and encouraged some of the editors I’d become friends with not to settle or be spoken over.
Over those two and a half years, I worked behind the scenes and in the spotlight to bring change. I didn’t care that in some instances people were asking me to collab and then putting the brunt of the literal and emotional work on me. It was more important to me that
Other writers, chefs, cooks, and creatives were getting their moments. I knew representation or a single mag story wasn’t revolutionary work and that capitalism was never going to save us, but a single story could significantly change a person’s bottom line. That felt worth it.
So I stayed, I fought, I spoke up in constant closed door meetings with execs, meanwhile I was the only black person in an editorial capacity (and in most situations the only black person) in the room. This was infuriating. In some instances, I was being more vocal for change
Than my superiors. I was being consulted for thoughts on EIC candidates by another EIC and executives, brand statements, editorial strategy, and more. I was happy to support the individual editors I was friends with who deeply respected me and vice versa. At the same time, I was
Intentional about saying that it was not the responsibility of the person (likely to be a woc) they chose to lead the brand to completely clean up all of Condé’s mess. This person was not going to be the help and needed to be given the resources and support to make change.
I believe(d) that that person deserve(s/d) better, that the people who were also overworked and underpaid but still fighting to make the brand more inclusive deserved better, that the audience we’d wronged and ghosted deserved better. I was essentially told “thoughts and prayers”
So, I made the choice to leave. I did so because it was the best choice for me. Had I been in this situation maybe two years ago, I might have stayed, not fully recognizing my worth. But I’m not person anymore. And I don’t think the editors I call friends I’m leaving behind are
The same either. So, I say all this to say thank you. Thank you @tammieetc. Thank you to the people who believed in me and gave me opportunities. Thank you to the friends who covered meals for me when I didn’t have it and took care of me without worrying about the details.
A lot of people have asked me what they can do in this moment to support the BIPOC and queer folx at BA. I think the biggest thing is to still hold the company accountable. To look at the situation with a bit of nuance (the ways the brand is so silo’d is truly wild).
But most of all, to give each of us the opportunity and space to define ourselves and our futures for ourselves. So many of us haven’t had that option or opportunity before, whether because we’re just starting to taste the beginnings of financial security or because we’ve been
Trapped by red tape and work environments that invalidated us. I know it’s self indulgent, but if you could give us that, and just believe in us a bit longer, that would mean the world.
I’m excited for what the future holds. I’m excited to see so many people reap the benefits of their incredibly hard work. Change is coming. I’m just excited for y’all to come along for the ride.
More soon
More soon
Ultimately, I’m still the boy who got into his dream school because his mom was willing to drive across town before work to make sure he could go to a high school with a solid hs newspaper. This isn’t just a win for me.
It’s a brand new table. Luckily we brought our own chairs.
It’s a brand new table. Luckily we brought our own chairs.
Lastly, anytime I pubbed roles at BA or spoke with people interested in applying, I only encouraged them to do so knowing that the community My friends and I carved out for ourselves would take care of them. I wouldn’t walk someone into this without them making informed decisions
In conclusion:
Swear to god working at Condé is like being on the opposite sports team in an Airbud movie. Like logically there’s no way to fuck up a situation that bad that you lose to a fucking DOG but they always find a way to fumble the bag
Swear to god working at Condé is like being on the opposite sports team in an Airbud movie. Like logically there’s no way to fuck up a situation that bad that you lose to a fucking DOG but they always find a way to fumble the bag
