Invited to the Party by Robert Blalock

Written for SIM by Robert Blalock , CIO of Benebay Corp, member of SIM Tampa Bay

Recognizing a birthday is typically accompanied by some type of fun celebration. However, as we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s. birthday in 2023, we still have some that are threatened by a good time. Dr. King, the drum major for justice, endured unimaginable circumstances in the pursuit of equality. His goals have graduated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As I reflect on the holiday, I wonder how many people are accepting the invitation to the party? Don’t get me wrong, I recognize that we’ve made progress as a society, but we’re often reminded on many occasions of how far we still need to go.?

My sophomore year of high school in 1986 was the 1st year America celebrated MLK Day. I went to a?predominantly white catholic high school where I had some good experiences academically and with sports but some negative experiences with racism. As I remember, MLK day was met with some resistance. Not from students who felt it was another day out of school but from a number of adults who definitely weren’t supportive of recognizing the celebration. They quickly threw their invitation to the party to the side versus showing up and having a good time. I vividly remember Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday song for Dr. King played all day long, it was a great day and a symbol of hope for those of us willing to attend the party.?

As each year passes, MLK day gets more normalized, but I’m not sure recognized. I truly appreciate the path Dr. King forged, allowing for some successes that I’ve experienced. Even with progress, my path met many different levels of resistance when I found myself trying to make ways to be invited into “the room where it happens”. The executive office doors to the rooms where corporate decisions are made were sometimes locked. When I was in the room, I was the only Black male. It was eye-opening listening to the real decisions made by those normally included in the executive meetings. Although in a higher position than some of the regular invites, I had to find creative ways to attend those meetings even if I?was not included on the invite list. As a CIO now, I can reflect on the unimaginable microaggressions I endured daily. Fortunately, now my experiences naturally allow me to be more inclusive and aware when people are not properly being invited to meetings, and I can extend the invitation. On MLK Day, I want to celebrate Dr. King for paving the way. I have many reasons to party. I have a healthy family with a wife who has dedicated countless hours to getting students to college, and our own two kids are motivated to be great. People casually say, “your kids are doing great”, not understanding the constant battle of trying to defeat generational curses while at the same time manufacturing opportunities.?Although my family is blessed, many kids in the Black community do not have daily advocates and guidance due to a litany of reasons. One reason is working parents with Moms who must work almost twice as long because they only earn 64 cents for every $1 a non-minority male makes. We all get 24 hours a day, and if parents are spending most of that time working, that means there’s less time to help with homework, cook dinner, and provide the nurturing, care, and guidance many children require for positive outcomes. Even with desegregation and more access to education because of economic disparities, many Black children face seemingly insurmountable challenges before they even step into a school.?

Dr. King invited all of us to the party to be conscious of our actions, love one another and treat everyone fairly, which is the essence of the constant pursuit of DEI. We can listen to the impactful speeches that?Dr. King delivered and realize the irony of how relevant the subject matter is still today or recognize the spirit of MLK day. Questions I ask are, what gift do you bring to the party? We have so many more ways?to be impactful since the world has become much smaller with technology. Do you take the hard road and stand up for DEI and become the Life of the Party? Can you acknowledge when you walk into your corporate office that you are not above anyone, below anyone, but right beside everyone trying to do the right thing while recognizing everyone’s talent and making sure they get equal opportunities? Plus,?how are you determining who gets invited to the party, and are you willing to unlock the door and break down barricades to open the room to others who deserve to be there? As you observe MLK day, I?encourage everyone to honor the invitation and show up to the party and make a difference.?

Robert Blalock, Chief Information Officer, Benebay Corp

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