This is about Racial Equality and justice for All. We are at a tipping point in this country around the basic truths our country was founded on. The second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence starts as follows: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Yet, we have not been true to these terms when it comes to all people. We have struggled in administering racial equality for everyone and have perpetuated the myth that some people are more equal than others and that some do not deserve the same unalienable rights as our founding fathers.
It is time for us to accept that inequality exists and address the injustice that stands before us. Racial equality occurs when institutions give equal opportunities to people of all races. In other words, regardless of physical traits such as skin color, institutions and others are to give individuals legal, moral, and political equality. How can we do this?
Global Citizen.org gives us seven steps we can take every day to get started:
1. Choose to support racial Justice everyday: Racial justice is the systemic fair treatment of everyone regardless of race to create equitable opportunities and outcomes for all.
2. Educate yourself: Education is an essential part of organizing for change, according to Shakti Butler, President and Founder of the social justice and equity movement-building organization, World Trust.
3. Donate money: Monetary donations to bail funds and organizations, specifically led by people of color who are doing the work on the ground, are also helpful.
4. Have difficult conversations: Amnesty International recommends that people call out racism when they see it — and condemn it.
5. Take political action: Voting in local and federal elections is essential to reforming policing practices and addressing racial inequities.
6. Safely join a protest: Peaceful protests have played a role in human rights movements around the world, from Civil Rights Movement marches in the US to the efforts to dismantle apartheid in South Africa.
7. Get connected: People who cannot join protests can still find opportunities to plug into the racial justice movement, especially online.
The Harvard Business Review stated in a recent article that: “The U.S. has a complicated history with how we talk about slavery and how it contributes to disparate outcomes for Black people (including wealth accumulation, access to quality health care and education, and equity in policing) and the persistent homogeneity at the highest levels of corporate organizations. One consequence of avoiding this painful, yet foundational, part of American history is drastically different perceptions — particularly between white and black Americans — about how much progress we have made toward racial equality. And yet, study after study shows that educating white Americans about history and about black Americans’ current experiences increases awareness of bias and support for anti-racist policies.” So, what can we do in our companies?
Many ideas have been advanced recently and deserve consideration. For example, let’s talk with our employees and permit them to call attention to bias when it arises. Let’s employ “Unconscious Bias” training, which is the process of creating a culture that values and demands a respectful workplace for all and requires effective communication. This video from The Royal Society explains how we tend to make decisions by instinct, rather than rational thinking and thus may be biased in our response. Listen in to learn more about unconscious bias at: https://dramatictrainingsolutions.com/unconscious-bias-3-great-exercises-to-use-in-your-training/
We would love to hear more ideas on how racial equality is promoted in your work and everyday life. Send stories to info@courtemanche-assocs.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Select Resources
• Carter, Evelyn R. “Restructure Your Organization to Actually Advance Racial Justice” Harvard Business Review, June 22, 2020, download Link: https://hbr.org/2020/06/restructure-your-organization-to-actually-advance-racial-justice
• The Royal Society Training Video, download link: https://dramatictrainingsolutions.com/unconscious-bias-3-great-exercises-to-use-in-your-training/