Our firm was founded on the concept of equality in the workplace. Since our inception in 1973, a lot has changed, and even more has not. We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and those brave enough to make their voices heard. As we move through this week at work, our ability to support and make space for our colleagues is more important than ever.
In this wise Medium piece, Shenequa Golding observes, “I don’t know who decided that being professional was loosely defined as being divorced of total humanity, but whoever did they’ve aided, unintentionally maybe, in a unique form of suffocation.” Silence is not productive this week. Only those of us who benefit from the system have the luxury of pretending everything is ok, and that’s precisely the problem.
We pledge to use our voice and our platform to stand as allies to all in the black community. We believe that the burden is on white allies to proactively educate ourselves and figure out how to provide effective allyship. For this reason, we wanted to share a collection of resources that we have found helpful:
On the history of racism in the USA
On understanding privilege:
Article: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
Book: White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism
Book/Workbook: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
On raising anti-racist children:
On supporting black employees and colleagues:
On allyship:
As we continue to educate ourselves on racial inequality and listen to the perspectives of those who face racial injustice, equally important is what we do with this information, insight, and outrage. This week, start by being conscious of the real estate you're taking up on social media. Now is the time to amplify voices leading the conversation, sharing resources and perspectives that help everyone stay informed. The selfie, #tbt or silly video can wait. Meet this moment by having productive conversations about race with your family and friends (and, yes, especially with your children!). Using your ears, your voice, your time, your body, and your money (if you can), show up for each other, show up for the tough conversations, show up for the organizations fighting for change, and show up to vote. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you want to share additional resources or continue this conversation.