DEI Critical Thinking Guide: L.E.A.P To EQUITY

"The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations which we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep within each of us, and which knows only the oppressors' tactics, the oppressors' relationships.” - Audre Lorde

Individuals and organizations must think critically and act differently to create a?just and fair society where all Black lives matter. The Canadian history taught in schools, and universities historically are and continue to be written and taught from a Eurocentric lens, minimizing and excluding the full history and contributions of Black people.?This means many leading Human Equity initiatives, those tasked with accountability for equitable culture change in the workplace, are tasked to do so with a less biased view/lens, as they increase their Racial Equity competency.

The task ahead isn't easy, there isn't a "one way will lead to x" but what we do know is this, while systems don't dismantle themselves, people can dismantle and create more just societies and by extension, workplaces.

"We know that bias increases under cognitive load, {In this guide, we provide EQ-based tips to help build emotional trust with employees. } When coaching leaders on Racial Equity competency and comprehension, I often remind them, "inclusion is owed, not earned" - this is why self-leadership is one of the most, (if not most critical) parts of the journey.

What role does critical thinking play in leading Human Equity work?

According to the University of Louisville,

"Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action."

Critical thinkers intentionally test previously held assumptions and beliefs, lead with curiosity to challenge fixed ideas around racial and systems of inequity, and leverage their emotional resilience to problem-solve through action. Improving thinking around racial equity requires intentional examination and reflection which will require consistent, intentional action.

What do we know about how we got here?

Dr Ann Morning, Scientist and NYU Professor of Sociology breaks it down here

"Race is an idea we collectively created."

Systems of inequity and oppression did not create themselves; people did. Systems don’t dismantle themselves; people do. So what happens when the leaders with systemic power knowingly continue to uphold and contribute through their actions to more systemic violence??

In The White Racial Frame, sociologist, white racism researcher, chess player and author Joe E Feagin breaks down what encompasses the white racial frame.

"Now more than four centuries old, this white racial frame encompasses not only the stereotyping, bigotry, and racist ideology emphasized in other theories of “race,” but also the visual images, array of emotions, sounds of accented language, interlinking interpretations and narratives, and inclinations to discriminate that are central to the frame’s everyday operations."

'The contemporary racial frame encompasses not only cognitive stereotypes and articulated values (the important conceptions of what is desirable or undesirable on racial matters), but also important nonlinguistic elements such as racialized emotions, images, and even smells.

“The white racial frame is so institutionalized that all major media outlets operate out of some version of it. This dominant frame shapes our thinking and action in everyday life situations."

Reading The White Racial Frame have deepened my curiosity about disrupting structural and personal racial bias as a daily leadership practice as we dismantle and co-create new systems of equity. Here are some reflective practices we use to help leaders deepen their posture for leaping to equity.

{Feel free to add these to your #selfawareness practice as you continue to bridge your knowledge-to-applied-practice racial equity leadership gap}

1. Understanding that we all in some way see the world and the workplace, make decisions and relate/see others through a White Racial Frame, how are workplaces preparing and supporting leaders through this tremendous leadership behavioural gap? How are workplaces bridging the leadership learning gap with leaders and employees who are leading Human Equity, JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) focused work?

2. How are we shaping the thinking of our innovation economy, as we continue to create equitable systems that support racial equity and by extension our human equity goals? How do we dismantle mindsets steeped in a Fixed Mindset, who have graduated from Universities with degrees taught and awarded without an accurate understanding of Canadian history?

3. How are we preparing workspaces and leaders with decision-making power for the existing racial knowledge competency gap? How are we talking about Racial Equity in our Board rooms? Will we be known as the ancestors who upheld the structural status quo? Will we be known as leaders who held conscious competence around racial and human equity hostage because of our collective Fixed Mindset? Will we be known as leaders with low moral courage, and innovators who did more harm than good with our cultural inheritance?

When I think of celebrating Black History Month, I also think about the importance of Black Futures Month (I believe both should always trending 365 days of the year) and the urgent need for us to celebrate by supporting the work of those who continue to challenge the status quo.

Step 1/3 of the LEAP TO Equity Critical Thinking Guide: Critically analyze the history you inherited, the one you were taught and what you learned about Black History and Culture.

When I think of our current-day trailblazers, Black women leading, teaching Canadian Black History and creating better systems of equity, I deeply admire the leadership, work and research of Historian and Educator, Dr. Afua Cooper, a?senior academic trained in the history of Black people in Canada, and the African Diaspora, who talks about her 30-year efforts to bring Black studies to Canadian Universities,

"Anti-Black racism has been an integral part of the Canadian intellectual tradition. This tradition has actively denied Blacks a role in history and nation building, erasing Black people and their history from the Canadian historical canon."

source: https://www.dal.ca/news/2021/04/06/afua-cooper--my-30-year-effort-to-bring-black-studies-to-canadia.html

Her indomitable research on slavery, abolition, freedom, Black?education, and women studies across Canada has made her one of the leading figures in African Canadian studies. You can learn more about Dr Afua Cooper here.

{So, how are you putting into action what you learned? Whom are you learning from, and who are you learning with?}

Step 2/3 of the LEAP TO Equity Critical Thinking Guide: Challenge your inherited systemic beliefs - learn from the present and integrated Canadian and Global Black History.

As leaders and practicing allies, leaning on your critical thinking skills to re-evaluate what you've been taught and what you weren't taught isn't an option, it's imperative to Human Equity, our collective well-being and our humanity. Leverage your growth mindset and critical thinking skills to (re)think how you learn, whom you learned from, (un) learn so one can take consistent systemic action to honour and celebrate Blackness here in Canada and beyond.

To apply critical thinking to broaden your perspective, we recommend to begin with #SelfLeadership to challenge your inherited systemic beliefs. Journal and reflect on the following questions:?

• Where am I not seeing the contributions of Black people??Where am I seeing Black contributions not being taken seriously or at the same level of the status quo/workplace majority?
• Where in my life can I normalize Black presence? How can I apply the same thinking to other historically marginalized groups?
• How will I redesign my workplace lifestyle to include daily social justice action??
• How will I amplify current Black voices, events, issues, celebrations, innovations, Afrofuturism, conversations etc?
• On which platforms and social circles will I share and amplify my learnings?

Step 3/3 of the LEAP TO Equity Critical Thinking Guide: Invest in AfroFuturism/Black Futurism. Black lives were disrupted with structural racism, we are not defined by it. Build structural and cultural equity by investing inAfroFuturism. (Re)Educate on Canadian Black History, Reflect in order to integrate what you learned in your decision-making roles and lifestyle,in order to take consistent equitable action.

Every action you take, is a step towards structural racial equity or a step towards upholding the status quo. Every action you take is a vote towards your future self.

In summary, here are the three ways to guide your thinking towards critical thinking when it comes to racial equity in the workplace.

1. Step 1/3: Critically and intellectually analyze the history you inherited, the one you were taught and what you learned about Black History and Culture in your social, school and family systems of values and beliefs.
2. Step 2/3: Challenge the incomplete history you were taught, your inherited systemic beliefs. Learn from the present, from and with Black led and focused organizations and update your systemic knowledge of Canadian and Global Black History.
3. Step 3/3: Invest in AfroFuturism/Black Futurism.

I hope this mini Critical Thinking Guide helps to build a stronger bridge towards taking equitable action not just on Black History Month but throughout the entire year - acknowledging #BlackHistory365 (created by By Blacks - #1 online magazine for Black Canadians)

Through education rooted in action, only then can we realize a future where the history of African people is no longer minimized or whitewashed, but brought to the forefront to be celebrated by all and taught to future generations. ??

To learn more about the critical thinking process and how to apply it to think differently critically about various historically marginalized groups, stay connected with us as we launch our L.E.AP To Equity Certification Program.

Every action you take, is a vote towards your future self and the leadership legacy you would like to leave behind. Discomfort isn't judgment. Walk through the discomfort of learning, growing and unlearning. In the uprooting of inherited systemic beliefs, courage is always on the other side of fear.

?#EquitableLeadership #LEAPTOEQUITY #RacialEquity #blackeducation #racism #emotionalhealth #blackgirlmagic #racialjustice #mentalhealth #awareness #EmotionalIntelligence #BeyondEmotionalIntelligence #EmotionsAreData #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #mentalhealthmatters #diversityandinclusion #emotionsaredata #innerwarrior