Doing Anti-Racism Work is Our Business
A photographer’s work celebrates the full spectrum of color, and light, and shadow, and contrast, and most of all, people…ALL people. As a business owner I am proud of the work I do in the field of photography. It would not be possible without a diverse group of colleagues and clients who assist and support me. Therefore, I feel it is imperative I take a stand through my words and my actions to denounce racism in our workplaces and beyond.
"Unless we are prepared to have a discussion about the impact of stereotypes and how they affect decisions that are made within organizations, we are not going to make any more progress toward eradicating racism," - Binna Kandola, author of Racism at Work
I read an excellent article in The Harvard Business Review titled, “What Leaders Must Do Today to Address Systemic Racism.” I want to share the 3 common missteps to avoid and 3 meaningful actions to adopt noted in the piece. (The article is linked here so you can read it in its entirety).
To start, let’s take a good look at our own practices and see if we have made any of these missteps:
Keeping silent – Do not default to neutrality or silence. “No one has the perfect words” but it is a leader’s job to help those they work with feel safe.
Becoming defensive – When approaching uncomfortable conversations, don’t fall back to a defensive attitude. Do not diminish the thoughts and feelings of others but rather, focus on engaging in constructive conversations.
Overgeneralizing – Making sweeping generalizations when troubling events occur only increases the divide. “When in doubt, ask employees about their individual experiences to honor their uniqueness.”
We can provide both physical and psychological safety by embracing these meaningful actions noted in the article:
Acknowledge – “Acknowledging any harm that your Black and brown coworkers have endured.” Learn how to do so thoughtfully by committing to lifelong learning about racism.
Affirm – Others need to know they have the right to feel safe and protected. Acknowledge their rights by offering opportunities for “reaction, reflection, conversation, growth, development, impact, and advancement.”
Act – Carefully consider the ways the power you possess as a business leader could affect real change. Our actions have a much more lasting impact than our words. There are wonderful examples of courageous leaders pledging dollars and changing policies to accelerate positive change.
We as business owners are leaders in the community. We should not tolerate injustice of any form and must lead by committing to a transparent anti-racism agenda. Join me in openly denouncing the inhuman treatment of George Floyd and so many others. Then, together, let’s take a stand, by committing to eliminating racism in our own lives and our workplaces.
I invite you to contact me privately at sarahmphoto@gmail.com to discuss this topic or share your thoughts in a comment below.
#eliminateracism #leadbyexample #antiracism #harvardbusinessreview #BinnaKandola #blacklivesmatter #sarahmorreimphotography