Creating social change means accepting the discomfort of changing ourselves and accepting the loss of privilege

(For white and non-black people of colour who wish to be allies to the black community.)

I work in social innovation and am used to creating new products, services or things external to myself to help make the world a better place.?This week as I started writing my fortnightly newsletter “Zen & The Art of Social Innovation” against the backdrop of a growing movement fighting for racial justice, I realised that the innovation that is needed in this case is internal.?I must change myself - my understanding, my actions, and framework for existing to fundamentally dismantle the unjust system of which I, all of us, are a part.

Understanding

First, I need to educate myself on the realities of the black experience and actively seek out the perspective and work of the black community.?It is not enough to have black friends and know them and love them.?And it is not okay to lay the burden on these dear black friends to educate me.?I will never know what it is like to walk in their shoes nor face the injustices and level of mortal danger they, their family and their friends face regularly solely because of the colour of their skin.?However, I can try to understand. These two pieces have been illuminating for me as I begin this journey Walking While Black and Trevor Noah on breaking the social contract.

Also, I need to do the hard work of identifying my own biases and ways I perpetuate the painful and broken system.?Any advice on how to do this thoroughly is welcome.?Please message me.

Wise Action

Next, if I am very serious about contributing to social justice, it is not enough to just understand, I must take wise action.?My definition of wise action is that it comes from a place of clarity, compassion and love - not fear, anger or hatred.?We can feel these difficult emotions, but the action should come from the desire to move towards a positive outcome.?Though we cannot give what we don’t have (i.e., don’t join a protest if it compromises your health during Covid), we also must be willing to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced.?Here are a few useful links to inspire immediate action: Activism & Allyship Guide, Social Change: Everyone Has a Role to Play and a list of organizations to support via donation.????

Framework for Existing

Finally, and perhaps the most difficult part, is changing the way I exist in the world to actively make space for the black community.?This means the need to accept the discomfort inherent to making changes to myself and taking on new behaviours, as well as accepting the loss of privilege.?

What this means in real terms right now for me is stepping out of my comfort zone to speak up about racism.?

• To have honest conversations with my family and friends who are primarily not black.?
• To use the platform I have to acknowledge the real injustices and loss facing the black community.?I was inspired by this moving video with James Corden to write this article and post it.?
• To speak up when I see racism in action.?It is more powerful for a white or non black person of colour to call out racist acts than from the person to whom the aggression (conscious or subconscious) is directed.??

Also, I believe there is no such thing as meritocracy because it assumes we all have the same resources and opportunities in life which we know is not true because of systemic racism.?Therefore, it is up to us to push for equality. A few ideas for the workplace:

• As a peer, pay attention in meetings.?When a black colleague contributes in a way that resonates, build on their comment by referencing their name, giving credit where credit is due
• If you are in a hiring position, set up recruiting relationships with schools and universities with majority black students to establish a pipeline of talent; And speak up if you suspect bias in the hiring process
• If you are in a management position, actively support black colleagues in finding mentors and champions within your organisation instead of leaving it to chance networking opportunities; And speak up if you suspect bias in the promotion process
• If you are in the position of awarding funding, read this article and be the catalyst for change

The existence of privilege means someone else has less advantage.?If we are truly endeavouring to create equality, then we must?accept the loss of privilege in whatever form that takes.

Behaving in the ways suggested above way may mean that we don’t get the job, promotion, or investment because we are not the top candidate when the assessment is fair and equitable.?Those are real personal losses in a new and equal system.?We must not only accept them but push for the truth. It is also vital as we commence on this journey that we do not fall back into bad habits or allow ourselves to change course. Too many start this journey and then when facing a job loss or missed opportunity regress to blaming affirmative action. This is a habit we need to break in order to create the critical mass needed to turn a movement into sustained positive change. It is also my belief that dismantling an oppressive system is healthy and benificial for all. Life is not a zero sum game. There is more abundance than we know.

“No one is free until we are all free." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Call to action

1. Start dismantling racial injustice in your workplace by taking one or more of the actions above.
2. If each person who reads this article pushes through the discomfort and has just one honest conversation about racism with someone in their community, and they in turn do the same, it could be an incredible ripple effect.?If you have a platform that reaches many, then engage your community in a call to end racism or forward this article.?Together we could create waves.??
3. Get engaged in local elections where most of the policies and funding for local law enforcement is made. Reform of institutions, laws and the justice system are all needed. Vote!

Apologies for any misphrasings in this article. I wanted to take that risk instead of staying silent.

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Stay grounded. Onwards we go!

Ling Ling

Founder,?Two Lings?