It's Not New.

If you're white - like me - you know deep down you are given the benefit of most doubts. You also know our black neighbors and fellow citizens do not. (If you feel any tug of objection or denial at those statements, your self-awareness is currently so low as to be underground.) The below provides a searing example of this.

Let me set the stage. This is not a police rant. Just like protesters vs looters, there's always the 0.1% who f*ck it up for everyone else. This is just America.

We grew up in the same neighborhood. We played AYSO soccer together in front of the Rose Bowl. Our Dads roamed the sidelines. Similar economic backgrounds. We both went to private universities. We're both professionals in our fields.

The difference is that he's black. He posted the following last week.

"I heard the warning from my father and my forefathers when I was a teenager. How to behave as a Black man when dealing with the police so I don't end up injured or dead. The same warning that was passed down from plantations to the private schools (the message is the same for all young Black men).

I was first handcuffed at age 17 during a "routine" traffic stop by the Sheriff's department. Fortunately, I was blessed to know a couple of their own and dropped a name that made the deputies immediately change their agenda and release me and my friends. That wouldn't be the last time I had to use a name to make some over-zealous police "act right."

I've been beaten and falsely arrested by the police and I used to think it was poor training, but now I see it is just poor parenting. God promised me through His Word that "no weapon formed against me shall prosper."

Again - my childhood teammate's story is not new. I have heard many times about the conversation black men feel they must have with their sons when it comes to police. The first time was when Rodney King was beaten just up the highway from my hometown.

But now that I have sons this really came home for me this time.

As a white father of white sons in America I have never considered - nor will I likely ever have to consider - such a conversation.

THAT difference isn't right. THAT - and the denial of THAT - is IMHO the root of all the anger. "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist...."

It's not new.

THE EPILOGUE

I originally posted the above on fb, out of frustration and in support of the people I grew up with. I realize now I need to share it with business leaders.

Some of my frustration is with the complete abdication of leadership of the current cadre of federal elected officials, but also the silence of so many business leaders who can DO SO MUCH to effect change. I'm speaking of real change - not the "We support/We're here for you" circle jerk.

Thank you, Ben & Jerry's, BTW.

If you're responsible for people in your company, please share with your colleagues. Your employees are STARVING for leadership. Not the comfortable kind we as company leaders are used to. Not the strategic work. Not the partner development. Not the rah-rah. Not the product-market fitting. Not the optimizing of liquidity to withstand a pandemic.

Real, authentic human leadership.

It doesn't matter the ethnic (or gender) makeup of your workforce. More to the point, it doesn't matter what your ethnicity or gender is. I'm realizing that my speaking up actually stands out because very few others who look like me are saying anything.

Step into the void and lead. If it's authentic, YOUR PEOPLE WILL GLADLY FOLLOW.