Reggie Willis “Let’s Talk about It”
Reggie Willis ’94 “created grace and space for the conversation” about Racial Justice in the Workplace.
“WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEE ME?”
Very interesting question Reggie asked the group…what conscious or unconscious bias plays into how each of sees a black man, especially absent of credentials, context, nice clothing, etc. Can you be honest with yourself about what you think in those situations?
In the workplace, and beyond, we need to build stamina for the tough conversations.
It shouldn’t always be black people doing the work. White people need to be starting the conversations that make other white people uncomfortable. THAT is where the change happens.
THINK SOMETHING DIFFERENT. When you see someone you don’t know…think something different. Bring back HUMANITY. We need to be teaching humanity.
Equality v. Equity v Justice (this is in Egnyte folder). Good reminder from Reggie of a concept introduced by Phyllis in one of our first meetings.
So, let’s talk about the workplace.
Just a couple of the challenges faced:
People are surprised to see a POC in a leadership role. “Do you deserve to be here?”
There are only 5 black CEOs in Fortune 500. If this number represented the same percentage as the population in America, there would be 65.
Often, black people (or any minority in a given group) don’t have the luxury of individuality. The minority in the room becomes the representative (spokesperson) for that group and isn’t able to be an individual.
What to do about it and why should we (what’s in it for me?)
Companies who have women, black and Hispanic employees at Executive level are at the top of their industries
Fast ideas happen if you have a homogeneous group, but you get OPTIMAL ideas only if you have a diverse group.
Differences create better teams, better ideas. And diverse teams OUTPERFORM homogeneous teams.
We need to be questioning everything…awareness is key.
THINK SOMETHING DIFFERENT
“How are people being treated”
“How would this experience be different if I were black?”
“Am I comfortable with the business/hiring/promotional practices at my company?”
RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON CALL (will also be in Egnyte folder)
Podcasts
Women at Work: Sisterhood is Critical to Racial Justice
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4AUBw6EuWS7up0sNf2AeF7?si=ece0fc94c1b9422
http://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
Books
Consider buying them from a local, black-owned bookstore, rather than Amazon and the like
https://uncomfortableconvos.com
http://austinchanning.com/the-book
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53056522-mediocre
https://www.amazon.com/Caste-Origins-Discontents-Isabel-Wilkerson/dp/0593230256
(but maybe buy this from a local, black-owned bookstore. And the books above as well)
“This is not a you problem, it’s a me (we) problem.”
“There are too many finger pointers – we need more thumb pointers.”
