Share your microaggression work stories with us!
Here's our submission FAQ (non-writers welcome!)
here to complain is open for submissions!
That’s right, if you’re Black or brown with a work-related microaggression story to tell, we wanna hear it— because who among us doesn’t need to vent.
As a reminder, here to complain (H2C) is a Black-trans founded monthly digital zine all about airing out Black and brown folks’ work-related grievances, as oftentimes we’re not afforded the space to do so.
At H2C we’re building community around folks who get it, who can lend an ear, help you read your employee for filth in the comments, or possibly console you with kind words and affirmations for all the nonsense you must endure.
But of course, we cannot do that without you.
So to get us started, here’s a short Q&A on the who, what, and when of here to complain.
who can contribute?
Black folks across the diaspora, indigenous people, and all other people of color are welcome to submit.
Please note: You do not need to be a writer to contribute. This is an inclusive space for all Black and brown people to share your stories because they matter. Regardless of your skill level, learning disability, first-language or background. If you have an idea for a story but you’re unsure how to craft it into a post or essay, we can help.
And yes, you are welcome to either use your name, write anonymously, or under a pseudonym. Ain’t nobody trying to lose their jobs amid late-stage capitalism.
White people are welcome to donate to writers below their posts, respectfully share comments of support in the comment section, and contribute to some community discussions in our upcoming Newsletter Chat when explicitly invited (more on this later!).
what sort of stories are we looking for?
As long as your story involves some type of micro (or macro) agressive nonsense from your job or post-secondary/grad school, it’s fair game. And this includes all forms of discrimination (racial, gender, sexism, ageism, etc.) because over here we understand intersectionality.
By the way, if you happen to experience discrimination from someone of your same race, that still counts. Anti-Blackness and white supremacy come in many shades.
Here are just a few ideas of the sort of posts we welcome:
An essay summary of your work experience. (You’re welcome to include screenshots!)
A list of your top 5 most annoying microaggressive moments that aren’t quite long enough for an essay on their own.
A re-imagined microaggressive experience in the way you wish it could have gone.
A poem inspired by a less-than-positive work experience (as long as you can include a summary of the event).
Select upbeat stories celebrating micro-work wins regarding pro-Blackness and other anti-discrimination in the workplace.
For more on what a story might look like, here’s our very first essay (which is actually the catalyst to how H2C began!) Keep in mind, your story can be much shorter, or a bit longer than this:
how often will we post?
You can expect a new post from us on the second Tuesday of every month.
For now, we’re a monthly digital zine (with plans for an annual print edition!). However, depending on how many submissions we get, we’ll revisit that frequency.
does it pay?
All contributors will now be given $50, a small token of appreciation for your time and labor. This amount is a combination of our paid subscriber donations and money out of my own pocket. It’s the most sustainable amount we can afford now, but so excited for when we can offer more.
As always, the more donations we get, the more we can give our contributors, so if you have it, please donate!
how do I submit?
You can send all of your story ideas, questions, and pitches to wereheretocomplain@gmail.com
If you’d like to submit to here to complain, or you have a question that’s not answered above, feel free to reach out to wereheretocomplain@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
You can also post questions in the comments, below.
Can’t wait to hear from you all!