Open Letter to Andela: The Right Side of History

Given what's happening in Minneapolis and across the country, I sent this note to Andelans over the weekend and a number of people have asked if they could share it publicly. I'm doing so here in the hopes that it encourages other leaders to speak up as well.

I know many are on the sidelines wondering whether this is an appropriate conversation for the workplace, and the answer is unequivocally yes. This conversation is happening whether you like it or not, and silence is taking a side.

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Andela,

To call the recent events in the country appalling is an understatement. Even though it can sometimes feel difficult to bring up issues related to social justice in a work context, I want to make sure that everyone knows it’s absolutely acceptable to discuss these things at Andela, in fact being able to discuss them is part of who we are. Now is not the time to be quietly non-racist. This is the time to be vocally anti-racist, and it starts with each of us. 

In the face of overwhelming injustice, it's easy to feel powerless. When it feels that way, remember that over the past 50 years, immense progress has been made as a result of small groups of determined people, just like us, unwilling to settle for the status quo. While the moral imperative to act is highest for the most privileged, we all have the ability to create change. One way is to support organizations working to create the change we want to see in the world. I’ve included a handful below, but it’s worth you doing some research on your own.

• Black Visions Collective  
• Reclaim the Block 
• MN Freedom Fund
• Women for Political Change

These are just a few examples. Over the next week, I will personally match any donation you make to any nonprofit working to advance racial justice, up to a total of $10,000. Just send me the receipt.

That being said, donations alone will not solve this problem, and we need to create space to have tough conversations. We don’t know and can’t know the lived experience of others, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to. There is a lot that each of us can do to be vocally anti-racist, and a good first step is to engage in conversation. 

Creating change requires a balancing act between pragmatism and optimism. We have to both look reality in the eye and also believe we can change it. If we lose hope, then we lose the chance to inspire ourselves and others to do the simple things, like voting, that create long term change. While things seem as dark as ever, immense progress is being made each decade, and it’s not going to stop. As Dr. King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Finally, the most powerful way to break down bias and racism is to build cross cultural relationships. When you’re on the same team working to solve hard problems, you can’t help but see that what unites all people is far stronger than what divides us. The work that we do to facilitate these relationships is critical and, if anything, this moment in history highlights it. While that doesn’t give us license to rest in times of crisis, please remember that we’re on the right side of history, and together we’re working towards a better, more just future.

J