Are you paying attention?
Two interlocking crises are playing out in real time, right in front of your eyes:
- The ongoing, unending murder of people of color – especially black people – by police.
- The COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affects communities of color, due to inequality in housing, employment, transportation, incarceration, and access to health care. This structural inequality has been consciously created over hundreds of years.
This is what systemic racism looks like. If you’re a white person – like I am – pay attention.
As I have been taught by black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) colleagues, the good will of good-hearted white folks isn’t sufficient. It isn’t really anything.
Like me, perhaps you have been sickened by the video clips of George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubery, and so many others – and yet your nausea changes nothing.
I have to do more. We have to do more.
How racism shows up in facilitation and training
When oppression is baked into the culture – not just racism, but sexism, homophobia, transphobia, class privilege, and many other destructive norms – it emerges in unintended, unwanted ways.
A few years ago, I attended a conference focused on equity and diversity. One session was co-facilitated by a pair of women – one black, one white – who had worked together for years. They were skilled, experienced trainers.
As the session progressed, the white woman stood closer to the participants while the black woman stood further back. By the end, the white woman had spoken about 70% of the time.
When this was brought to their attention by a frustrated participant, they were embarrassed. They explained their design decisions, but also realized that their choices – who was leading which portion of the workshop, and how much time was allotted for each section – had implicitly undermined their equity message.
Even the most conscious among us can fall into unconscious patterns that mirror the dominant culture. That’s why it’s called implicit bias.
Yes, you need to name it
Regardless of your facilitation topic – COVID response, strategic planning, fundraising, whatever – racism is in the room. White supremacy is in the room. Oppression is everywhere.
If you’re a trainer with lots of privilege, like me – and if you work with predominantly white groups, as I often do – I urge you to raise this subject as clearly and artfully as you can.
Here’s an excerpt from a previous post, Showing Up Imperfect: Power, Privilege, and Imperfection.
“On the principle that marginalized people shouldn’t bear the burden of teaching everyone else about oppression – in other words, men need to talk to men about misogyny, straight people need to talk with straight people about homophobia, and so on – how do we model this in the context of training and facilitation? Even if (especially if) it’s not on the agenda?
“One answer: If you’re willing, seek out those teachable moments and name what’s going on. If your power and privilege allow you to take risks, talk about why and how that works in real time.”
Sharing the wealth: A response to racism
I recently read a post from the Center for Whole Communities written by Delma Jackson III. In “Cut the Check or Count Me Out,” he decries white liberals for “refusing to do the work in your own communities because it scares you.”
“In a capitalist system,” Jackson writes, “safety means capital investment … Make the case for reparations on our collective behalf. Organize, write, protest if you like. But firstly, raise the finances to secure and protect us. Commit to THAT and then talk to me about justice.”
Point taken. Inspired by Jackson and also consultant Mazarine Treyz, here’s my commitment:
As I slowly wind down my business over the next few years, I will continue passing along gigs and recommending consultants. One consequence of my own racism is that most of these referrals have been going to white folks. That needs to change.
So – if you’re a BIPOC consultant, trainer, or facilitator, and you serve nonprofits, I want to know more about you and your work. I want to share your name with potential customers and clients. If I can help you build your business, let’s be in touch: andy@andyrobinsononline.com.
I will proactively reach out to BIPOC consultants I have not yet met. I will give more money to people-of-color-led organizations. I will seek out new ways to support BIPOC-owned businesses. And I will advocate for reparations.
Never waste a crisis
If there’s an upside to this horrific moment, here it is: everything is on the surface. Those who prefer to look away have a harder time doing so now.
Let’s leverage this moment. Let’s harness our collective energy as facilitators, trainers, consultants, and changemakers to do the difficult work. As consultant Renee Rubin Ross writes, “If you take an action that makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably the right thing.”
Here’s to your discomfort – and mine, too.
Thank you, Andy, for these timely and powerful words. I was just thinking this morning that I must reach out to my BIPOC friends and ask them what organizations could benefit from my financial support. I need to start putting my money where my mouth is.
This has been an especially poignant, and teachable, moment for land conservation orgs as we witnessed what happened to the man who was birding in Central Park and was a victim of a racist attack. We want to be inclusive, but so many people of color don’t feel safe in outdoor spaces. We must do better.
Thanks for your thoughts, Jill. And yes — the conservation community has a lot of work to do to address systemic racism. Thank you for prioritizing that work.
Thank you Andy for mentioning my work on the Name It Podcast. We can all do better.
If you are looking for a board facilitator or trainer you could not be better served than Kishshana Palmer.
Thanks, Mazarine. Yes, I admire Kishshana, follow her work, and have shared her name with others in the past. Will continue to do so. She’s awesome.
PS. Mazarine, always appreciate your consistent, strong voice on this topic. Thank you.
Andy I can’t wait to hear that you reached to Kishshana, I am in contact with her, and she would LOVE to hear from you. 🙂 -Mazarine
Excellent. Just emailed her…
Hey Andy, awesome collection of thoughts, as always. Thank you for sharing and speaking out.
Thanks, Mia, for your thoughts, and for your work addressing racism and oppression.
I found this quote yesterday while cleaning up. I don’t know who said it but it must have impressed me because I wrote it down on an old birthday card.
“ Individual altruism is no match for systemic desperation “ but along with sending a check, we can roll up our sleeves, register to vote and encourage others to do so and resolve not to slide back into complacency when the demonstrators leave the streets.
Thanks, Joan. Appreciate the quote and your call to action.
Let’s acknowledge that racism didn’t end with the election of Barack Obama, and it won’t end with the removal of our current president. This is very old stuff on our continent, dating back to the displacement and murder of indigenous peoples (which continues today) and the importation of enslaved Africans beginning 400 years ago. Yes, yes, yes, we need to vote — but there is deeper work to do, both before and after the upcoming election.
Great post, Andy. Energizes me to continue to raise my awareness and level of action.
Thanks, Steffi. We can all do more. We MUST do more.
Andy
I first met you when you facilitated a workshop for grantwriting at the Highlander Center. It was a great experience, and the site was a good choice.
So, as a person of color I know where your heart and spirit is. Thank you for this blog, the work you do, and for passing on a legacy that others will hopefully take and use with the same energy as yours.
I am starting some facilitation work in my business. I will contact you about possibilities and support.
I attached my website, but it will be updated and overhauled hopefully soon!
Thank you again for this important work, and for pointing to the elephants in the room.
Take care.
Hey Lisa — Yay! Let’s talk. It’s been too long…
Thanks for your endorsement. It means a lot to me.
Highlander Center has an amazing history of social justice activism. I encourage folks to check them out.
Thanks, Andy. Helpful, clear thoughts! We’re all struggling to figure out how we can do more than talk the talk.
Amen! Thanks, Gail.
“That’s why it’s called implicit bias.” This is where I’m at–realzing just how subtle my bias and privilege can be at times. Thank you for “stumbling” through and sharing your super thoughtful perspective and experience. Over the last year, I have found myself stuck between “token” recommendations vs going to people I’ve actually worked with. The reality is my comfort level hasn’t been challenged–as your closing says, that’s the rub!
Sad to think you’re winding down, though you’ve earned it…hope you keep writing!
Hi Ellen — Yes, this is hard. It’s supposed to be hard. Thanks for being self-aware and embracing discomfort.
No sadness required: I am not retiring anytime soon. It’s been a long-term priority to help other consultants build their businesses. By working less, I can generate more clients and more jobs for others.
Hi Andy,
thanks for this inspiring post and for the shout-out to my blog.
Warmly,
Renee
Thanks for your work, Renee.