Depresservation

Validation for all the depressing, frightening, shocking, demoralizing, and straight up wack experiences of working in a museum.

[depresservation]

Work: you’re the only Black curator here. We need you to go on tv 3 hours before your shift starts to talk about Black history month.

Me: I won’t be a token. And an unpaid one, at that.

Work: that’s not what we meant. But it’s Black history month and the other people here are white.

Me: So, a token. Shoulda thought of that before hiring the same old white dudes every time.

Work: it’s the chicken and the egg... Black people won’t come here if we don’t represent them.

Me: I somehow represent all black folks but I’m not a token? Plus y’all like to use racial slurs here. If you ask me to talk about black history here, I may accidentally let that slip.

Work: You hurt our feelings.

[depresservation]

Talking over the expert

Me: “as I mentioned in my email, it doesn’t work because XY -

White Colleague: OMG WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT

Me: “xyz is - “

Same White Colleague: “OMGGGGGGG WHY”

Me: “I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU.”

[depresservation]

Sure, why not?

Voicemail: “Hi. We [allegedly] had a class together 15 years ago. Will you teach me everything you know about museum cataloging? For free? Over the phone? Now? In less than an hour? Kthxbye.”

[depresservation]

Imposter syndrome

‪My version of imposter syndrome involves a three hour pep talk before hitting send. The result of hitting send will be a sleepless night and then an hour of makeup in the morning - not because I’ll have dark circles but because I will need armor to face myself and the repercussions of the ephemeral belief that I am good enough.

[depresservation]

Job listings

Is it normal for a boss that hates you to send you job listings? What if he sends the listing to everyone at work, but you’re the only one on the list who is qualified? Asking for a friend.

[depresservation]

Tfw when the director makes you accept a bug shit covered artifact from their friend. Side note: the artifact goes for less than $20 mint.

[depresservation]

Researcher: Do you have anything about colored workers?

Me, playing dumb: what do you mean?

Researcher: negro workers

Me:

[depresservation]

matchbooks

There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection. There are matchbooks in the photo collection.

There.

Are.

Matchbooks.

In.

The.

Photo.

Collection.