Before we end America’s Black History Month and resume our regularly scheduled celebrations of Blackness, I want to share this amazing opportunity that I had to sit with Jack Tsan and People of Color in Psychology to have such a vulnerable and open conversation about my journey to leadership as a Black woman. One question that stood out to me in this conversation was, “When did you stop seeing yourself?”
We have been privy to Black women’s experiences from academia to corporate environments. Throughout these experiences that are highly publicized there are Black women still experiencing pain, struggle, and invisibility on a daily basis.
To those women, you are seen, your experiences are valid, and you have what you need to save yourself. There are communities of people that are just waiting to hold space just for you. A couple of places that you can go to find community or seek help would be IKONI Collective, Therapy for Black Girls, and The Loveland Foundation .
To organizations and leaders that feel exempt from contributing to and/or powerless to create systemic change, I still believe in your ability to course correct, be accountable for your priorities that are rooted in anti-racism, and that you are able to do the work to change someone’s experience. Here are a few tips:
1) Create a dynamic approach to DEIB learning that includes executives, key stakeholders, and all contributors with different learning mediums.
2) In your learning spaces, create spaces for genuine inclusive leadership development and accountability.
3) Lead with curiosity, compassion, and the courage it takes to center someone else’s experiences and be brave enough to prioritize the needs of those most impacted when decision making.
As we close out Black History Month on this additional day in February, may we all lean into our call to action to collectively change the systems that make these conversations necessary. Looking forward to sharing more about Black women in leadership, inclusive leadership, and organizational strategies that improve inclusivity and belonging.
