Originally published on June 23, 2020
How do we find a way to move toward action to dismantle systemic racism? After the murder of George Floyd, people around the world are acknowledging the realities of racism to a degree not previously seen. Awareness is important, but is not enough. Decisive action on the part of compassionate leaders is called for if we are going to do things differently than they have been done over many centuries past.
Here are five articles we recommend as a way for compassionate leaders to confront and transform the state of race in our world.
Is Your Company Actually Fighting Racism, or Just Talking About It?
In response to the murder of George Floyd, there has been an outpouring of support for marginalized communities from the corporate world through statements, advertisements, and commitments to future action. While the intentions expressed in these statements are crucial, they require action to lead to true change. “To adequately respond to the current uprisings, leaders must reckon with the Black experience inside their workplaces.” This article by Kira Hudson Banks and Richard Harvey, professors at Saint Louis University, shows what is needed to address “corporate brutality.”
Can Empathy Reduce Racism?
Empathy, or the understanding of the feelings of others, is a core skills of compassionate leaders. Implicit bias impairs that understanding. Acting with empathy can lead to less racist actions. Many racist responses are unconscious, and empathy is specifically productive in reducing the unconscious biases within us. This article, by Alex Dixon of the Greater Good Science Center, describes research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. If you find this research on empathy, compassion, and racism helpful, Rhonda Magee’s book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice, provides a more extensive exploration of tools and practices to combat racism.
Dear White People: Here Are 10 Actions You Can Take to Promote Racial Justice in the Workplace
White people shouldn’t expect black people to solve the problem of racism for them. Acknowledging that white people may not know “how to respond or what to do,” black corporate trainer and strategy consultant Dana Brownlee offers ten concrete ways to promote racial justice. Every one of these ten is achievable by anyone committed to an anti-racist path.
Teaching Diversity: The Science You Need to Know to Explain Why Race Is Not Biological
One action compassionate leaders can take to advance racial justice is to educate those with whom they work. The idea that race is a social construct and not a biological fact is not accepted broadly. Those who believe that race is adequately explained by biological causes are likely to be resistant to structural changes to eliminate systemic racism. This article, by Kay McChesney of the University of Illinois – Springfield, is designed for faculty teaching race, ethnicity and related topics. It takes a systematic approach to arming the reader with the science establishing the non-biological foundations of race. When discussing race and racism with those who are slow to recognize the magnitude of systemic racism, the science in this article can help keep the discussion focused on evidence-based science.
AAPS Statement on Race and Racism
Last year’s statement on race and racism by the American Association of Physical Anthropologists is another resource to support leaders in their efforts to be an anti-racist thought leader with their team. The words race and racism can be used in wide range of ways, leading to misunderstanding. This statement offers a clear scientific understanding of what race is and isn’t, and the origins of the concept of race.
These are only five of the many articles that will help compassionate leaders on the journey to dismantling systemic racism. Have you found additional articles or resources helpful in your own leadership during these times? Please share it with us and the community.
Photo Credit: Center for Compassionate Leadership.