Where Do We Go From Here?
The past two weeks have been full of important, heavy, emotional conversations around the death of George Floyd, protests, rioting, and thoughts about where to go from here when it comes to racial equity in our world. I don’t have the answer – nor will I say everything correctly. However, I can provide the starting point of a safe space for this conversation, so here’s some of what I’ve heard flowing out of many hearts:
- I have a black son and we’ve been talking about what kind of car he should drive – one that’s not too nice and one that’s not too crappy – even though he doesn’t get his license for a year. We have to address issues other families don’t even think about.
- They (rioters) have been throwing bricks and rolling flaming garbage cans at my husband (a police officer).
- I don’t understand what white privilege is– I don’t think I’ve ever really been exposed to people of color in my small community.
- My wife, an African-American woman, was running through our new neighborhood when a white woman came running out of her house and started asking my wife where she lived and why she was running through the white woman’s neighborhood.
- I am ashamed I don’t know more about racial equity.
- I’m afraid to say the wrong thing
Wow. All of these are heavy, hard things to say aloud. It took courage for each of these people to share their stories.
Where Do We Start?
Let’s start with two themes I’ve heard in these conversations. The first theme is there’s a lot I don’t know and don’t understand but I want to learn and be a better person. The second theme is: What can we DO to make things right for people of color?
Here are a few practical steps that begin this conversation among our families, friends, and colleagues.
- Admit you don’t know what to do and share how you will say something wrong.
- Extend grace in these conversations because we will get them wrong. It’s more important to say something than to not speak up because you are afraid of saying the wrong thing.
- Listen to people’s stories and learn what each of them has experienced and is feeling.
- Read, watch, learn about what it is like to be someone of color. Here’s a great list of 40 shows/TED Talks/books from Parade.com to get you going.
Next, Be Specific
Whether you are a business owner, an employee, a parent, or a friend, get specific about how you will take action to create conversations that produce racial equity among those in your sphere of influence.
Your specifics may include things like:
- I will identify ways to attract and retain people of color to work at our workplace.
- I will speak up when I hear an unconscious (or conscious) racial comment.
- I will advocate on our school board for equal opportunities in learning.
- I will bring home books that help my children see and understand the world looks different than our family.
- I will identify the moments when I feel afraid I may say the wrong thing, and I will claim that, and then say what needs to be said.
- I will extend grace to those who have humble hearts and are trying to do better even if it’s not perfect.
Additionally, Create Self and Team Check-ins
It’s not enough to talk about equity one time. We won’t change a history of discrimination in one conversation. Create checkpoints for your own goals and your team goals around creating equity. Revisit the conversation regularly and see how you are doing. Revamp your specific action steps.
Together
This is a complicated subject and we each bring something unique to the conversation. When we listen and learn, we move forward together. Writing this is one of my specific steps in changing things. Will you join me on this journey?
Vistage chair, keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork, and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams.
If you are a CEO or know a CEO who would benefit from a peer advisory group, please contact Sarah at Sarah.Gibson@Vistage.com. To inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.
