I am Responsible for Injustice

In the last 100 days, life in America has taken a tumultuous turn. The U.S. has been fighting the deadly Covid-19 pandemic for months, and now it is facing civil unrest and protests due to the repeated violence and discriminatory treatment against black Americans. Time and time again, unarmed black men and women die at the hands of police and its way past time we do more than mourn another tragic incident. It's time we confront systemic racial injustice as individuals and as a nation. The way we start is by looking at ourselves and asking ourselves tough question. The way we start is by accepting responsibility for our part in injustice. 

Each of us has the power to change ourselves and be the catalyst for change for those around us. That requires a mindful approach that reflects on your current perspective and behaviors and how you need to change. If we do nothing in this big moment then we will have failed our our friends, colleagues, and neighbors again. We will be complicit in the continued injustice.

Responsibility for Our Hearts

I believe the first thing you have to look at is your heart. Do you genuinely care about the plight of your fellow citizens? Can you empathize with the realities and struggles black individuals and other marginalized minorities face on an often daily basis?

• Reflect on the many issues at hand and your feelings towards those issues. Why do you feel or not feel the way you do? Consider how your personal beliefs affect your perspective of current events. Do you have prejudice and bias towards others?
• Recognize there is not just one problem but rather a pattern of abuses and failures that have contributed to the frustration and anger of black communities.
• Be honest with yourself and your feelings. Your viewpoints are based on your perceptions. Often when you look at things from a new perspective, you can gain a new understanding. 

Responsibility to Learn

When sitting on the outside looking in, it can be easy to focus on the negative consequences and aspects of a movement. However, it is critical to take the time to understand the frustration leading to unrest and discord. It is essential to make an effort to not only understand the protest itself but understand why people are feeling tired, angry, and unheard. The responsibility falls on you to learn the struggles that others face and how you can make a difference in your actions and behaviors. 

• Make it a point to hear from those facing the struggles; do not be afraid to talk and listen to your black friends or colleagues about their experiences and challenges.
• Do not assume you understand "the why" but instead take the time to listen to individuals explain the source of their frustration.
• Watch, read, and listen to different perspectives and individuals to gain new knowledge. It is essential to learn from many individuals because each person faces different struggles and may have different motivations and drives for change.

Responsibility for Our Words

You cannot forget the power of words. We must discuss and debate the issues at hand as a society, but we must do so in a respectful and empathetic manner. Even a well-intentioned message can be lost or destroyed by using the wrong words or being misinformed. By listening and trying to understand you become part of the solution. 

• Lead meaningful and open-minded discussions.
• Ensure you are not using offensive or degrading terminology when debating or speaking with others. 
• Do not make uninformed or misinformed commentary. Stay abreast of current events from multiple sources.

Responsibility for Our Actions

It is often easy to talk about how to make things better, but it is challenging to implement change. Keep in mind that changes within yourself will inevitably encourage change in others. 

• Identify your behaviors that may be doing more harm than good and how you can improve or eliminate those actions in your day-to-day life.
• Recognize inaction as a complicit behavior that can also cause harm.
• If you see something, say something. While not every situation is in your control, there are many daily interactions that we have that hurt others. 
• When you see an injustice occurring, do not simply turn the other way. Consider how you can safely and respectfully seek or offer help for the aggrieved individual.
• Encourage change in others. Many times people may not realize their behaviors are causing others harm; help others recognize when they may be acting in a hurtful manner. Unconscious bias is a real thing that we all have.  

While we may not ever fully understand the plight of our friends, colleagues, and neighbors, we must take the time to listen to their struggles and experiences. Only by listening to the perspective of those being aggrieved will we gain the knowledge and understanding necessary to make a positive and impactful change. 

John F. Kennedy said in 1961; you must take this moment to "Ask not what your country can do for you — Ask what you can do for your country." What we can do for our country and our communities is to act and to change ourselves first. Our friends, colleagues, and neighbors deserve a society that treats all of its citizens equally and fairly and gives them a chance at life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That starts with each of us individually being better.

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Rhett Power was recently named the 2018 Best Small Business Coach in the U.S., joined Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches, and was named the #1 Thought Leader on Entrepreneurship by Thinkers360. He is CEO of Power Coaching and Consulting in Washington, DC, and hosts Power Lunch Live, one of the most popular business talk shows on LinkedIn's live platform. Check out his fantastic line up of guests and listen to past episodes at www.powerlunch.live.

If you enjoyed this article, here are a few other ways to connect with Rhett. You can read his regular columns on Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Thrive Global. For speaking and coaching inquiries, please email [email protected].