We All Must Act – A Reflection on MLK

Looking back on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy after the divisive political climate of 2016, I’ve found myself reflecting on an important lesson: One extraordinary leader is not enough. Sustainable change requires all of us to lead. Dr. King led a movement that had a profound and lasting impact on our society. His legacy is awe-inspiring, even intimidating. As we think about the current state of race relations in the United States, we must recognize that Dr. King’s work is not over and all of us play a role in building inclusive workplaces and communities. In my role as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at PwC, I take this inspiration to heart.

In July, Tim Ryan, our US Chairman, encouraged staff to begin difficult discussions about race at work when several violent, race-related events compounded and took over the national dialogue. What followed was an increased focus by the firm to create an environment of reaching out to one another to listen, support and discuss. While not mandatory, these discussions – which continue today – were well attended and robust because, as we have learned, so many of our people and their colleagues, families and friends feel that enough is enough.

Often what gets in the way of candid conversation about race in the workplace, at the coffee shop and the dinner table, are our blind spots – the assumptions we make about other people’s experiences. Only through dialogue can we all learn from each other and continue the work of recognizing commonalities of the human experience, which Dr. King brought to light so evidently. To enable as many conversations as possible while constantly supporting our people, PwC announced firm-wide blind spots training to help address our unconscious biases.

Listening and using our words to relate to one another is one way to begin understanding how current race relations in the US continue to limit us in so many ways. But what else can we do? How else can we follow in Dr. King’s footsteps?

Here are five suggestions:

Be Bold: Dr. King was revolutionary largely because he was unapologetically true to himself and his beliefs during a time when so many were not allowed to be.  We could all use encouragement to stand out from the crowd when we feel it is the right thing to do. PwC’s unconscious bias training and race talks exist to hopefully set the stage for all of our people to be their true selves in the workplace and beyond.

Be Courageous: The march from Selma to Montgomery took true courage. The state of our nation necessitates individuals who are able to channel their beliefs into acts of courage that cause real change. It took courage for our staff to reply to an email from Tim Ryan from Tim in July  and recount their struggles with the shootings that occurred and express their own personal experiences. The outpouring of feedback he received showed our leadership that something needed to be done. Continued acts of courage can do just that within our communities across the country.

Be Curious: Dr. King was a preacher, but like many other leaders, he was constantly questioning others’ experiences. The importance of empathy and understanding in today’s political climate cannot be overstated. Compromise is needed. So, let’s be curious. Let’s ask questions, seek out opposing opinions and discuss them with our friends, neighbors and coworkers. Let’s not be afraid to question the status quo in a respectful and meaningful way.

Be Resilient: The civil rights movement, like all social movements throughout our history, was met with opposition. In our day-to-day lives, individuals and businesses must remain resilient when faced with bigotry, racism, sexism or misogyny. PwC remains determined to promote an inclusive workplace for all of our people, no matter the environment we exist within. It is too important not to.

Be Color Brave, Not Color Blind: Our PwC Talks Color Brave discussions were partly inspired by Mellody Hobson’s courageous commitment to speaking on the impacts of racism in America. Her call to action for us to be color brave, rather than color blind, is one that all people would benefit from signing on to. In her TED talk, Ms. Hobson took inspiration from one of Dr. King’s most memorable speeches when she asked businesses to leave nothing on the table in favor of a better future for our children and their dreams. PwC was lucky enough to include Ms. Hobson in one of our original PwC Talks, and we continue to be inspired by her words.

Meaningful, impactful change cannot come from the top-down; it must become part of the fabric of a business and the society in which it functions. Today, nearly 50 years later, we still have the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest diversity leaders in our country’s history; let’s not be daunted by the effort it will take to continue his legacy. Rather, let’s move forward in a way that’s bold, courageous, curious and resilient. Whether you work from a cubicle or a farmer’s market, drive a school bus or report to work in a corner office – every one of us can lead in their own meaningful way. If we want to facilitate change, we will need to sustain it, so we must all to do our part in taking the lead toward inclusivity and understanding.