Together, let us transform organizational cultures in a way that invites everyone to show up at work as their authentic selves.
While no one has a specific prescription for eradicating racial injustice in the workplace, I believe that a vital first step is embracing the difficult conversations and uncomfortable truths we’ve become too accustomed to avoiding. The awkward baseline fact is that blacks and whites in corporate America often maintain their subcultures, including very various informal conversations in the workplace, with a surprisingly little overlap at times.
In this historical moment, though, this natural doubt and pull through political correctness (on both sides) may cost us desperately needed collective progress. Hence, it’s worth the risk to stop whispering and start sharing.
Below are the three vital “truths” that I feel many black people in corporate environments would boldly discuss in “private” but not necessarily assert in “public.”
Truth #1. Racism does not just show up in its most extreme form. There is a continuum (of racist behaviors and thoughts), and you may be on it. This truth is one reason white people are so quick to insist that they are not racists. It is because the word “racism” has been so corrupted in our culture that we only recognize it in its most extreme form. To be able to see racism only in its most egregious and blatant form renders one unable to detect it in their everyday actions or broader belief system.
Truth #2. Even if you haven’t offended anyone (that you know of), you may be part of the problem. Arguably, the more significant threat to racial justice in the workplace is not the rampant, overt racist who is more likely to be the obvious, easily detected “enemy.” Still, instead of the more likable workplace “friend” who chooses to look the other way, not get rationalized or involved inappropriate behavior or unjust processes or systems (“Well, we’ve always done it that way.”) We are either being antiracist or racist.” In business jargon, I want to say that you are one of the two, part of the problem or part of the solution.
Truth #3. Every black individual on your team is not your friend. While true friendships that cross racial lines develop in the workplace (thank God), there seems to be a tendency for white individuals, in particular, to misinterpret work or project-specific affiliation with broader friendships with black co-employees. The truth is that many workplaces are “socially segregated,” meaning work teams and projects may look diverse. Still, an interesting thing often happens once the focus changes from work to social time (e.g., lunch rooms, break room discussions, drinks after work, conference socializing). People will tend to self-select into groups where they feel most at ease and comfortable, and for black employees, this often means chatting or huddling with other black employees. This in and of itself is an excellent standard process and not at all problematic. Still, it’s a very tangible demonstration that participating on a team or working on a task with someone doesn’t necessarily make you “friends.”
Having these three truths, the book American’t by King Bell can relate to these. Here, Bell conveyed that being black in America has obstacles that we have to overcome and, unfortunately, accept. He chose to write in his effort to maneuver since he can’t change the color of his skin or the minds of so many in his country who cannot possess compassion for anyone who isn’t white.
American’t is the superlative highlights the author’s vexation when America disappoints him, and he knows that so many other non-white people share the many annoyances through conversations, music, art, and, yes, his contribution to the plethora of other agitated Black authors.
The American’t community is composed of those who understand not only the exasperations that come with waking up black but the need to release the frustrations onto paper instead of using a gun, a bomb, or storming the Capitol.
Final Words
It’s natural for people to seek out others with similar backgrounds and experiences (which is the premise behind many corporate Employee Resource Groups). Still, we often need to make more effort than we might think to genuinely develop friendships in the workplace with those who do not look like us.
Alex Writes 