There is Power in Our Shared Story: February 2021 Takeaways

Two incredible months began a year that initially appeared unchanged from the last. A global pandemic raged unabated and our differences seemed to grow wider than ever. January, particularly, proved that unmitigated polarity mixed with seared emotions can drive evildoers to inconceivable ends. Yet, in February, I saw glimmers of dawn presaging a path to escape our darkest moments. To me, the extreme oscillation in the last two months was enough to cause whiplash. On January 6th there were Confederate flags parading through a sacked U.S. Capitol building, and days later, we celebrated the confirmation of a history making black cabinet secretary.

But, there was something different about Black History month this year. Could you feel it too? It was as if the stillness caused by Covid’s interruption of our sedulous lives calmed not only our feet, to the relief of our weary planet, but also focused our ears. It was as if someone said, “shhh, do you hear that?” A notable few inclined their ears towards the raging sounds banging on the other side of the metaphorical wall. Someone heard the ‘Save Our Ship’ message often intoned in the expression, “Sir, I’m speaking.” In February, from our basements and Zoom conferences across the digital divide, we tried to embrace our shared story of humanity by arresting the true narratives of triumphs, challenges, and contributions of black people. We did this, not because any one group’s humanity is special, but to ritually acknowledge an abiding fact: there is power in each of our stories. 

There is galvanizing, liberating, didactic power in laying bare the truth; this includes recognizing the challenges impacting communities of color, understanding the role we each play in those outcomes, and amplifying the triumphs of those who are doing the hard work to address these challenges. 

Here are some takeaways from my efforts this month to be a net contributor to the conversation.

 (1) Real impact is not a dream—it is actually possible. (Black Voices from Big Brown)

 If you haven't paid attention to the amazing work of April Nelson, the UPS African American Business Resource Group, and the MARCH Foundation, then I’d encourage you to take a few moments to be inspired by their incredible project, Black Voices from Big Brown, documenting the triumphs of black people in the world’s largest logistics company. In addition to an amazing podcast, there is an accompanying book to which I had the privileged of contributing. The book includes a forward from our CEO Carol Tome. Proceeds for the book go to the Mutual Alliance Restoring Community Hope (MARCH) Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the education of African American youth through scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). You probably heard most recently about one of the March Foundation’s members Cal Tyler, who was recently featured on CNN with his wife for providing the largest ever private donation to his alma mater Morgan State University. Yes, a former UPS driver did that! Dedicating a few extra hours out of my day (over the last few months) to support this kind of project, and having an employer that is supportive of this effort, affirmed my hope in brighter days ahead.

 (2) Do the hard work from the beginning. (Amperity)

Amperity is an amazing company that helps clients solve problems using data. They are the kind of tech savvy, West Coast startup that we all dream we could invest in before it becomes an industry behemoth. My friend Molly Williams suggested that I join Derrick Dotson, Britta Wilson, and Joycelyn Barnes in a talk to Amperity's management team about creating diverse and integrated teams. What really inspired me was the sincerity and rawness of the questions asked by the members of the Amperity management team in full view of c-level leaders. Amperity is a great example of building a culture, from the ground up, that seeks to be reflective of our communities, and mindful of the role each of us plays to reducing disparities at a corporate level. Amperity is embracing its role as a corporate citizen to do the hard work of addressing inequality and they stand out for their thoughtfulness. You can learn more about this amazing company here: https://amperity.com/.

 (3) Be Intentional. (Shook Hardy)

Nearly 10 years ago I was an associate in the big law firm, Shook Hardy. It's an open secret that the legal field generally lags behind other industries in focusing efforts to address equity for women and minority lawyers. But, I remain steadfastly impressed with the efforts of my former law firm to take intentional steps to develop and champion the work of young lawyers of color and women. I recently joined Leonard Searcy, Jon Gray, and John Lewis for a talk at the Judge Jon Gray Leadership Academy, which brings together rising star lawyers at Shook Hardy, like Anitra Raiford, and champions like Anna Pieschel for mutual support, mentorship, development, and advancement. 

This experience reminded me that intentionality is the key to unlocking untapped potential.

In companies large and small we measure success through key performance indicators, and other means. If we want to address equity challenges, then we can’t leverage esoteric notions of “pipeline issues” as an excuses for poor recruitment, development, and retention. A programmatic approach to moving the needle, like the one used by Shook Hardy, is the more business oriented solution to overcoming historic challenges. The Shook leadership academy was a compelling program and I encourage other law firms to consider a similar approach.

 (4) Focus on Building Systems of Trust. (Talking to Strangers by Dr. Allen)

Together we read Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown v. Board of Education by Dr. Danielle Allen. It is a dense read but worth the dig. In the book we found a framework for, and powerful commentary on, engaging across difficult divides. The fundamental requirement for accomplishing that goal is to build robust systems of trust. As Dr. Allen describes, “to develop criteria for distinguishing legitimate from illegitimate forms of sacrifice, and also to outline a form of citizenship that helps citizens generate trust enough among themselves to manage sacrifice.” This was a timely read considering the stark political questions that we are called to address in this moment. Dr. Allen continues, “as citizens struggle over political questions, they will necessarily come to understand how political choices affect social experience.” In many ways we have arrived at a point of awakening that readily acknowledges the intersection of political decisions and their attendant real-world impact on our lives. The narrative of pulling oneself up “by the bootstraps” has been profoundly dismantled, from both the left and the right, as both constituencies opine on a system that is fundamentally engineered against progress for "the little guy." This is a momentous juncture; and in the words of Drake “what a time to be alive!” If we focus on building systems of trust, then the conversations we have with strangers may become more constructive, and just maybe, more clarifying.

 (5) All hands on deck. (Quick and Swift Podcast)

Karli Swift and Lillie Madali are two of the most genuine and kind human beings that I know. We first met as fellows of LEAD Atlanta. Recently I joined them on a their podcast Quick and Swift (Ep. 15, ATLiens Making Black History Every Day) to discuss the role we can all play to advance equity in our daily lives. I have never considered being the first black person to hold my current job as “history making,” and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself an expert on diversity and inclusion, but I am cognizant that each of us can serve as a source of inspiration, and should hold that gift with the reverence it deserves. And, even more importantly, that we have a moral obligation to lean into the challenges inequality presents daily, in big ways and small, at work and in our personal lives. This obligation is not confined to February—it is all hands on deck at all times—our lives should be centered on this goal.

 (6) Professional Engagement is a Prism to Professional Comradery. (National Bar Association - CLS Conference)

There are some positive attributes to this new digital environment. It allows us to collaborate and engage with one another across substantial distances. And, at times it may feel as though we could not be further apart, but opportunities abound to draw closer together. One of those opportunities allowed me to participate on a panel with three of my very best colleagues Jenifer Curtis, Farah Spainhour, and Cathy Hilton. In addition to learning from these incredibly powerful women, we also had the opportunity to provide a ‘peak behind the corporate veil’ to legal practitioners across thousands of miles, and manifold disciplines. Engaging in this exercise grew my appreciation for the way collective thought leadership with colleagues can elevate camaraderie. It was an honor to be in the midst of these powerful women and to gain insights from their years of legal practice.

This all leads me to one inescapable conclusion—that there is a path to better days and it runs directly through our most uncomfortable truths. Black history month is not really confined to the 28 days of February. 

We set aside February to focus our vision; but, black history is shared American history. A history that includes, as an essential character, all of America. Each one of us has a role to play in harnessing the power of our shared history, because embracing the truth liberates both the lie and the those who labor under it. 

It is far too early to say whether this February’s tiny ray of hope is an indication of anything durable, but perhaps, we will start to acknowledge that we all live in the same house, and we all have an obligation to respond to an emergency in any room. 

March is my birth month. It is also Women's History month. And so, I have two really special reasons to be excited about March 2021. I look forward to listening, and learning, and growing in understanding of the triumphs and challenges of our better selves. I look forward to focusing on the challenges and triumphs of women, so that (as a man) I can be empowered to help clear paths for my daughter, and to amplify the great work of women giants all around me.