Time to Get Educated

So much has been spoken on the topic of race relations over the last two weeks and the outpouring of support from individuals of all colors, leaders, and organizations across the world is truly energizing and inspiring. Folks in positions of power are taking notice and there finally seems to be movement in the right direction. But I for one have been left wondering: what can I do as an individual, short of becoming an activist or going into politics, to make a difference?

Punchline: I don’t (yet) have an answer to that question.

However, the best way to figure it out is through education. There are many ways to go about this: read books, follow the right leaders, watch balanced documentaries, attend online classes, have candid conversations with people who are intelligent and passionate about the subject (and maybe limit your exposure the news cycle).

I recommended an excellent documentary last week and will now recommend a well-known leader and educator: Robin DiAngelo. It is not an exaggeration to say I learned more from just the first 10 pages of her book White Fragility about what truly constitutes racism than I did during my entire time at school and in my professional career.

This is a supremely complex topic and the truth of the matter is far more complicated than I realized. She directly challenges her audience (who she says is predominantly white) wherever she goes. In short, assuming that because you have never committed an act of racial prejudice or discrimination does not mean you are off the hook. Quite the contrary, and this is at the heart of her message.

Read what she has to say, listen to her speak, turn the mirror back on yourself. Then the real work begins…