Feeling Bad About Social Inequity Is Not Enough

Like most people when I saw the news about the George Floyd incident, I was horrified. I wanted immediate justice and was irate that it took so long before the officers involved were fired, arrested and charged. Several times I posted on social media my outrage and disbelief that this is still happening in 2020; that as a society we have to bring awareness to Black Lives Matter. Subconsciously I felt I was doing my part.

During this time, I had a call with one of my good friends, a person of color. My friend asked me how I felt about what was going on. I responded that I felt it is a travesty, it is bullshit, it has to stop. He then asked, “What are you doing about it?” I paused. I said, “What can I do about it?” He said you are a CEO and an influencer; you can do a lot.” 

For the next week, I thought a great deal about that conversation and started really asking myself what I was doing, and even more what I wasn’t doing and why not. I started thinking how I sleep well at night because I “check all the boxes.” I have several good friends of all races. I founded a nonprofit, Believe in Dreams, that fulfills dreams of economically disadvantaged youth who have survived non-medical adversity, which represents well over 90% minority children. And I felt outraged and total empathy for the inequities that continue to happen in our society.

However, the more and more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn’t doing or haven’t done anything to make any progress or contribute to any social inequity movement, i.e., Black Lives Matter, Me Too, or LGBT. I don’t know the exact answers. I do know that I am guilty of kidding myself that I am doing enough. I realized that it is not enough just to feel badly about injustice. It starts with having uncomfortable conversations about what is going on; a lot of them. Leaders need to listen more and learn more. Customer service and The Relationship Economy apply as much to social responsibility as they do to customers and employees. We all have the opportunity to be better leaders, CEOs, co-workers, influencers, parents, and neighbors.

*Related - Why You Need to Listen Better