If I make it to the C Suite and I am the only one who looks like me in the room, I have not made it. It is important to bring more people through the door and make a better way for others who look like you and others from more diverse backgrounds.

Kamau Bell

As I lead and serve, I will never say in describing my accomplishments: “it is unprecedented” “first time ever” “no one has ever done it” “we are the only ones who could do it” “we are getting first time approvals” “we are the best” “everybody loves us.”

Instead, I will say: I take full responsibility, I appreciate you, we will work together, I believe in you, we need all of us to work together, and I am grateful for your faith and support. It is not I, but we who will get through this together.

Be Leaders, Be Humble, Join Together, Acknowledge how you can get better, Acknowledge your mistakes, Be There and show care and compassion. Lift others as you climb.

When you walk with integrity and you live to serve others before yourself, you will never have to worry when those around you start to deal in lies and deceit in order to damage your reputation and character. It is one who keeps his head and maintains his values in a time of challenge that demonstrates true leadership.

JB

Be About We and not About Me.

When Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills suffered cardiac arrest on the field of a NFL football game, Stephon Diggs rallied his teammates together and prayed for their fallen teammate. Stephon Diggs was there.

When Damar Hamlin was in critical condition in the ICU and we did not know whether he would live or die, Stephon Diggs went to the hospital to be there for his teammate. He entered the ICU even after being denied by security because he wanted to be there for his teammate. Stephon Diggs was there.

I am sure even during the last few games of the season Stephon Diggs found a way to be there for Damar Hamlin and his family. Stephon Diggs was there.

On Sunday, Stephon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills lost a playoff game to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills did not play well. Stephon Diggs did not play well. Near the end of the game , Stephon Diggs exhibited his emotion and in some people’s eyes “showed up” his quarterback. After the game, Stephon Diggs left the stadium immediately after the game and did not stay with his teammates. Some people believe he “showed up” his teammates. He eventually was asked by a teammate to come back to the locker room and he did. Stephon Diggs was there.

These aforementioned incidents involving Stephon Diggs alll happened within the last month. I want you to keep the same energy about Stephon Diggs when you realize that he is an athlete who was there for his brother teammate. I want you to keep the sane energy about Stephon Diggs when you realize he went to the ICU to be their for his brother and his brother’s family.

I want you to keep the same energy when you hear others demean and talk about Stephon Diggs in a negative light ,when he was upset after he lost a game. I want you to keep the same energy and talk about Stephon Diggs when he has to take some time to get away because of the pain he felt after a tough loss.

We say that we care about Black Men and Mental Health. We say we care about how Black Men are treated when they are vulnerable with their feelings and actions. We must ask ourselves to keep the same energy if we really care how you treat these men differently when they show they care for their brother as to when they show their disappoint when they lose a game.

Keep that Same Energy!

We hate taking our own lives;

We are dying;

We are not feeling valued;

We are not feeling loved;

You only see us on the court;

You only see us on the field;

You only see us in the magazines;

You only see us on the charts;

You don’t see the realness of who we are;

We are trying to save the world;

We are Kings;

We are Human;

We Bleed;

We Cry;

We Hurt;

We Love;

We Pray;

We miss our Brothers who are no longer with us;

We have words, but sometimes we don’t know how to use them;

We want to rest, but sometimes we can’t sleep;

We have voice and we want to holler, but sometimes no one is listening;

We want help, but sometimes we don’t know how to ask;

We want to accept your love and care, but sometimes we don’t how to receive it;

We want to be held, but sometimes the squeeze causes us not to breath;

We want to trust, but we don’t know how;

We are Love;

We are Hope;

We are Passion;

We are Kings;

We are Leaders;

We will have Peace;

We Will Rise!

JB

No Statements…..Just Actions

No Words……..Just Actions

No “I’m Sorry”……….Just Actions

No Advice……. Just Actions

No Remorse………Just Actions

No Empathy………Just Actions

No Shock……..Just Actions

No Pledges……….Just Actions

No Joining Coalitions………Just Actions

No Conscious Reveal…….Just Actions

No Asking Me What to Do……….Just Actions

Actions may not be perfect. Actions may not be informed . Actions may not be loved by many or any. Actions may be painful. Actions may deliver no immediate self satisfaction. Actions may lose you customers. Actions may lose you money. Actions may be second guessed.

Actions must not be. patronizing. Actions must be measurable. Actions must be substantial. Actions must be significant. Actions must be relevant. Actions must be community informed. Actions must come with receipts and accountability. Actions must be immediate. Actions must be thoughtful. Actions must be meaningful.

Time to step up and dare to be different. Time to do your own work. Time to stay in an uncomfortable space.

No Statements! No Words! Just Actions!

JB

“Each of us is more than the worse thing we have ever done. “

Bryant Stevenson

Will Smith is much more than the slap he delivered to Chris Rock while millions of people watched on the Oscars. This was also the first Oscars produced by a Black man, Will Packard, and an all Black production crew. This was a historic night. The night was historic, but for some wrong reasons that should not have happened. The slap should not have occurred and we must act differently even we we think we are defending others, including our family and our wives.

I believe Will Smith made one of his worst decisions last night at the Oscars. It was not wise to walk on stage and smack another Black man. It was not wise to let the emotions of protecting your wife dictate your behaviors, especially when those behaviors do not resemble behaviors you would want our young people (your children) to follow. We condemn violence against kids. We condemn violence against women. We also condemn violence when there is interracial violence caused by bias or prejudice (hate crimes). Violence should be condemned at all times.

We cannot pick and choose when violence is ok. We cannot say that violence from one Black man towards another Black man is ok because he was protecting his family. There are ways that we as GROWN MEN AND WOMEN should act or react towards others that threaten our family. Sometimes a public (international) display through acts of violence is not the answer. Sometimes we must restrain and contain our emotions and realize that our actions will dictate not only our consequences, but those of others who look up to us and may immolate our behavior. As Black men, typically no one will stop us from fighting each other. If it is a public fight, we may be at times encouraged to fight each other even more violently. Some people may even videotape the altercation and put it on “World Star Videos” for further exploitation. As Black men, we also know that unlike violence geared towards people from another race, law enforcement or security may not always intervene the right away and may not be able to solve the problem of violence or throughly stop it from happening.

Will Smith is a great actor. He is now an Oscar winner as well. I do not know what kind of husband, father or son he is, but I do know this recent incident with Chris Rock, even if the worse thing he has done, does not define him or his life. We should not cancel Will. We should not, nor let others, ban him from the Oscars. We should hold Will accountable for his actions and he should apologize to Chris and not just the Academy. Lastly, our young people need an apology and also to see alternatives to problem solving and protection other than violence. Violence is not productive, and also leads to arrest, civil suits, retaliation and even sometimes needless deaths or damage to property. We are better than this, so let’s not let this happen again. Will you are better than this.

JB

#FadetoBlack

Letter from my cell…….

Once again, the time has arrived to celebrate the holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Each January, many people dust off old quotes from Dr. King, misconstrue the meaning of those quotes and then pontificate on what they believe Dr. King’smessage would be to the world if he was still alive. This is also the time of year where many breakfasts, lunches, workshops and seminars supposedly teach the tenets of Dr. King’s philosophy and host speeches by individuals who have not even studied or read the works of Dr. King. Yes, it is that time of year.

In years past, I too have found it easier to join the crowd and write an essay with a few Dr. King quotes. This year is different for me, and as a result, has been the most difficult time that I have ever experienced in writing an essay focused on Dr. King. While I kept trying to come up with Dr. King quotes and thoughts to share that might inspire you, I kept hearing the voice of Dr. King saying “that is not it, keep trying.” That voice then led me to go back and reread Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail and then pen this essay describing the current state of social justice and what you and others can do about it. That is when I decided to write Dr. King a letter entitled, “A Letter from a Social Justice Jail.”

Unjust Laws Create Unjust Outcomes

In his letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King speaks about the applications of unjust laws.

“These are just a few examples of unjust and just laws. There are some instances when a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I was arrested Friday on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust.”

In refection, it is clear through Dr. King’s example, that the unjust application of a legitimate ordinance used to silence a people’s voice is application of law in an unjust manner. This application of the law landed Dr. King and others in jail and resulted in an unjust outcome. Similarly, in 2021 there remain many laws that govern or restrict the ability of people of color-owned businesses to prosper in a just manner economically. On their face these laws and practices are straight forward. They require detailed RFPs for the ability for people of color owned businesses to complete, they require exorbitant amounts of insurance for small business opportunities, they require 30-45 day waiting periods for reimbursement and payment to vendors. These are just a few of these laws and practices. These laws and practices currently prevent businesses from intentionally and thoughtfully employing people of color owned businesses and serve much like the parade ordinance in Birmingham. Instead of stifling speech, these laws stifle economic opportunity for communities who need it.

Dr. King, my commitment in 2022 is to eliminate or reduce the effectiveness of these unjust laws and practices and increase the just outcomes for people of color owned businesses at Children’s Minnesota.

We are Our Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper

In his letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King speaks of common causes and threats to injustice.

“Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider.”

Dr. King’s quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” is commonly used when people refer to Dr. King and his works. However, what does it really mean and how can it be applied. In order to completely understand, we must acknowledge that, at times, if an injustice is not directly happening to us, we ignore it. It is not a priority to address it, because we do not directly feel the pain of an unjust outcome. Instead, we try and close our eyes and ignore the threat of injustice and hope it never touches our doorsteps. In healthcare and at Children’s Minnesota, we have sometimes ignored the injustices of systemic racism. We have ignored the poor health outcomes caused by the inability of Children’s Minnesota and others to acknowledge that we have ignored the needs of certain patients and prioritized the needs of others. This disregard for some may be intentional or unintentional, but as Dr. King states,that does not matter. What matters is the injustice and disparities in outcomes that result from this inaction.

Dr. King, my commitment in 2022 is to review and act upon unjust policies and practices. These may include policies such as behavioral contracts that restrict family access to patients at Children’s Minnesota and disproportionally impact families of color. I will also prioritize reviewing and acting upon patient experience complaints by families of color, and change the system so that these families are heard, valued, appreciated and respected.

Waiting is No Longer an Option

In his letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King said that waiting on justice is in fact no justice at all. Imagine if during the Civil Rights Movement these things were experienced by your family,

“I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say “wait.” But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cannot go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her little eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky, and see her begin to distort her little personality by unconsciously developing a bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son asking in agonizing pathos, “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?”; when you take a cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading “white” and “colored”; when your first name becomes “nigger” and your middle name becomes “boy” (however old you are) and your last name becomes “John,” and when your wife and mother are never given the respected title “Mrs.”; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never knowing what to expect next, and plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodyness” –then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.”

Since the murders of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, Ahmad Arbury, Daunte Wright and many others, we have reexamined public safety, policing, racism, bias, procedural justice, de-escalation and many other topics. Some have even decided that it is time to conduct yet another research study on the impact of racism as a public health issue. Others have decided to study health, economic, mental wellness, employability and other factors in order to get even more concrete data as they “wait” to solve the problems of injustice. This wait is unacceptable.

As Dr. King lays out in his letter, as you wait, damage continues to occur. Lynching, police violence, poverty and family destruction continue to occur. Family destruction is what we tend to overlook at times, but is what Dr. King wanted us to open our eyes to. He said imagine being a father and you cannot create access for your child to an amusement park because of her skin color and you have to explain that to her. Imagine being a father and you have to explain to your son why white people hate you and him because of your skin color. Imagine places you want to eat, sleep or drink that have a sign that says “No Negroes Allowed.” Imagine that the N word, boy, coon and other derogatory names became how you are addressed in front of your wife and children. Imagine that racism has consumed you and your family for generations and someone tells you to “wait” and hold on a little longer so we can study and see what the root cause of these problems are before we begin to solve them. Waiting is not acceptable.

Dr. King, in 2022, I commit that I will not wait, but that I will act upon injustice.

Just Do Something!

Instead of waiting, analyzing and pontificating, I ask that you spend the 2022 Dr. King Holiday doing rather than waiting. Here’s a menu of “to do” options:

1. Read or listen to an entire speech or sermon by Dr. King. Review it in the context of the audience, the situation, the desired outcomes and how this could manifest itself today. DO NOT SIMPLY POST ANOTHER MLK QUOTE. Learn more about Dr. King and the true meaning of his work, so that you can use that learning to create systemic change.

2. Commit to an action (personal action plan) that will change some of the conditions of injustice. Do something! DO NOT ONLY PERFORM ACTS OF CHARITY (donations, serving food, etc.), instead, commit to actions that will change unjust processes and inequitable outcomes. Commit to systems change and actions.

3. Listen, Listen, Listen to your Black friends and colleagues and do not act without really hearing the root causes of their pain and stresses. DO NOT ASK THEM WHAT TO DO, however, make sure you listen to and incorporate what is desired before you create another breakfast, monument or ceremony for Dr. King.

As you think about your 2022 MLK Holiday and the rest of the year, I leave you with these words from Dr. King as he closed out his letter from a Birmingham Jail.

“I MUST make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

“Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The urge for freedom will eventually come. This is what has happened to the American Negro.”

“I had hoped that the white moderate would see this. Maybe I was too optimistic. Maybe I expected too much. I guess I should have realized that few members of a race that has oppressed another race can understand or appreciate the deep groans and passionate yearnings of those that have been oppressed, and still fewer have the vision to see that injustice must be rooted out by strong, persistent, and determined action. I am thankful, however, that some of our white brothers have grasped the meaning of this social revolution and committed themselves to it.”

JB

#Fade to Black

What makes someone a hero? My Dad showed me.

As a young man growing up in the inner city of Detroit, Michigan, I always searched for heroes to look up to in my life. Sometimes those heroes were contained in comic books. DC or Marvel was always the choice, but those choices always had something in common. There were very few comic book superheroes who looked liked me as a kid. I didn’t want to be Superman, Batman, Robin, Spider-Man or even the Hulk, Although the Hulk was green, he too started out as a white scientist before turning green. The exception was Powerman. He was a Black comic book hero, but he only had cameos and served mostly as an understudy to the white comic book superheroes. Powerman much later in life got his own comic book. My Dad helped me find them and proudly add them to my collection. As a kid, comic book heroes who looked like me were hard to find.

I searched for heroes in history books as well. Some of these heroes were named Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Columbus, Jefferson, Edison, Patton and others. Most of the heroes described in these books did not look like me and some, if not all, never seemed to do much for people like me. Some of these so called heroes named Wallace, Lee, Thurmond, Helms, Connor, Hoover, Coolidge not only did nothing in support of people who looked like me, they intentionally enforced racist and discriminatory policies that led to lynchings and even death for people who looked like me. History book heroes sometimes aren’t heroes at all. Sometimes they are villains that have been masked by others and portrayed as heroes by misinformation. History books that are left unchanged perpetuate heroes that are detrimental to kids that look like me. These books and false heroes perpetuate the misconception that people like my Dad can’t be heroes. Nothing is further from the truth.

I also searched for heroes in the world of sports and entertainment. I found a lot of heroes who looked like me in these fields. As a kid, these heroes were baseball, football and basketball players and also many singers and dancers. One of my favorites was a Black dancer named Mr. Bojangles. He danced with a little girl named Shirley Temple on my television every Sunday before church. Shirley was about ten years old and Mr. Bojangles was in his 60’s or 70’s. They danced well together and always in sync. I tried to forget that he served the family and wore a butler’s suit most of the time and they probably could never use the same lunch counters or water fountains together. I also saw other entertainers as well, including the Four Tops, the Supremes, the Temptations and many more. It was fun watching them because they also grew up with my parents in Detroit and would hang out with them as well during my childhood. While my parents hung out with them, it did not take away the fact that my parents and the entertainers would also encounter white owned shops where they were not welcomed and encountered police brutality daily. There was no IG and TMZ back then so being a Black celebrity was not as glamorous as it is today. In fact, if you travelled down South, to perform during that time, it remained dangerous because the klan, segregation and lynchings. Black sports and entertainment heroes were treated very differently back then and it was hard for them to be heroes.

So I am sure you are asking yourself what makes my Dad a hero. I will tell you.

I was born in 1967 in Detroit, Michigan. This was the year of the Detroit Riots. The riots were caused by the brutal attack of police on Black men and women at an after hours party place and the continued police violence against the Black community. My Dad was leading the household with a very pregnant wife and already raising a little girl named Kim. Dad kept all things together and the family safe from July, 1967 through the riots and until my birth in October, 1967. He continued to protect us throughout it all.

My Dad’s heroism was not as obvious to me as a kid growing up. You see, my Dad was not an entertainer or an athlete, although he did play baseball in the Army and is a Korean War veteran. My Dad was not a superhero in my comic books either. He did not own or wear a cape although he dressed very well being from Birmingham, Alabama and Detroit and all. 🙂 My Dad and his friends are not in a history book. They are not portrayed as heroes although we know they are.

My Dad did not write any history books. He was born in 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama and in fact lived a history of segregation, lynchings, injustices and inequality. My Dad had to endure being called the N word everyday all day by white people. My Dad was forced to use separate water fountains, toilets and entrances to so called public accommodations. My Dad was forced to watch kids like him be lynched for so called looking at or whistling at a white woman. My Dad did all of this with 4 other siblings and a family that consistently had to endure the craziness and heinous behavior of the Klu Klux Klan. The state of Alabama in fact had a Governor that said “segregation then, segregation now, and segregation forever.” Governor George Wallace even ran for President of the United States, the land of the free and home of the brave.

The history of my Dad’s growing up helped him understand the need to make sure that although grade school taught me that there were no Black heroes in my history books, there were plenty of Black heroes in my city. Dad made sure that I met the owners of businesses, the presidents of companies and the leaders in the community that looked like me. He also always taught me the value of looking beneath the surface and making sure that you don’t accept anyone else’s version of history about you or your community. He said to me always make history so you can make history and tell your own stories.

My Dad died in the Summer of 1989. He died at the age of 64. He succumbed to diabetes and its grave effects on his mind, body and spirit. He died in Birmingham, Alabama. At the time of his death, My sister and I were driving from Atlanta to DC. I graduated from Morehouse College and we were headed to my new school, Georgetown University Law Center. My Dad did not see me graduate from high school. My Dad did not see me graduate from college and he did not see me graduate from law school. My Dad will not meet his granddaughter Teresa and he will not see all the firsts in her life. My Dad missed all the accolades bestowed upon me in 2021 and the ones given to me before this year. My Dad is my hero because none of these things about who I am would never have been possible without him and his investment in me. My Dad is and will always be my hero.

Love You Dad!

The journey towards equity, diversity and inclusion is paved with opportunities to fail and opportunities to abort the strategies that must be implemented to achieve equity, access and success. The last few years of working in this field has taught me that equitable change does not come without angst, resentment, blame, envy, selfishness and racism. If equity and inclusion were easy to achieve, we would not be in the position we are in today. Let’s examine how equity boxes must be moved to address systemic racism and make inclusion a reality for all.

The Equity Baseball Game

Many equity practitioners use the visual of three kids watching a baseball game to differentiate between equity and equality. As you can see from the visual, equality is reflected by each kid having one box to stand on and watch the game. The kids are of different heights so although each kid has one box, you can see that they cannot all see the game. The shortest kid can’t see over the fence even with a box. The medium height kid can barely see over the fence with a box. Lastly, the tall kid has a box, but really does not need one to see over the fence and view the game. Equality does not seem to work for everyone.

The visual for equity is reflected by boxes being moved to accommodate the needs of all the kids. The shortest kid now has two boxes and is able to see over the fence. The medium size kid remains with one box and is still able to see over the fence. The tallest kid has no box and because of being taller is still able to see over the fence and view the game. The box that was once used by the tall kid is now being used by the shortest kid in order for equity to be achieved. Equity seems to work for everyone – Or does it?

Who Moved My Boxes!

Many people describe the journey from equality to equity as NOT being a zero sum game. The theory behind this contention is that although equity will provide greater access and opportunities to others, no one who had those opportunities previously would be negatively impacted. The belief is that there is enough pie (opportunities) for everyone to be successful. Let’s examine if that is true.

In order for the short kid to receive enough boxes to see the game, someone had to give up a box. If the medium kid gave up a box, seeing the game would not be possible. However, if the tall kid gives up a box, which seems to have occurred, the tall kid is still able to see the game. You would expect the tall kid would be ok with missing a box since the game is still in view. Let’s further examine this experience through the lens of the tall kid.

The tall kid is representative of the status quo. The tall kid has the power and authority of those who have traditionally benefited from the system. The tall kid family have always had high wages, great jobs/careers, immense wealth, protection from law enforcement, more than average housing and access to high quality foods and services. In reality, the tall kid family has always had more than one box. The tall kid family has had many boxes for many centuries. The visual in the picture entitled reality better reflects the present circumstances. We are not asking the tall kid family for one box, we are asking for many boxes in order to achieve equity. Let’s examine the life of the tall kid and see why it may cause some angst by taking these boxes and giving them to the short kid.

The tall kid family are use to being in leadership roles (CEO, VP, Sr. Director). If you take that box what happens? The tall kid family is used to having revenue generated from contracts from major corporations. These supplier contracts and usually spent 95 to 100 percent of the time with the tall kid family. If you remove that box what happens? The tall kid family is use to having all wealth and access to high quality education, housing and consumer resources. If you remove those boxes what happens. The reality is that for every box moved, the tall kid family is not happy. The tall kid family may say publicly equity, diversity and inclusion are ok, but behind closed doors, their actions may indicate they don’t want any boxes to be taken from the family.

Rachel Nichols, an ESPN reporter, said it best recently when she represented the tall family in all its greatest. Rachel was made aware that a black woman colleague was being considered for some work in her area that she was currently responsible for. Rachel, made outward public displays supporting equity, diversity and inclusion, but in a private conversation she said the following regarding her employer ESPN,

“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it,” “Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing [box] away.”

Rachel and her reaction to boxes being removed reflects how the tall kids may look at, and react to recent positive commitments by companies and public entities towards equity, diversity and inclusion. The tall kids may make non-public statements about the boxes being given to the smaller kids. They may say some of these things:

Are the short kids qualified to receive MY BOX?

Are the short kids only being given MY BOX because of their race? Isn’t that reverse box discrimination?

Why are we focused on just these short kids? Aren’t there other kids with disabilities and LGBTQ kids who need MY BOXES too? What about them?

The tall kids are not willingly giving up boxes and in fact they may question the need for giving boxes away. They know they are tall and may not need the boxes, but they have had them for many centuries and in fact may not want to disrupt the system (systemic racism) to better distribute equity.

What’s in Those Boxes?

The illusion of Equity is sometimes reflected in the visual of having the boxes removed from the tall kid and given to the short kid. We look at the result and appreciate the opportunity the short kid has to view the game. However, you need to ask yourself a few important questions: 1) what’s in those boxes and are they useable and sustainable and 2) are the boxes being given to the short kid designed for the success of short kids or were they made specifically for tall kids.

Have you ever used boxes to move. Some of the boxes you use are new and crisp and can hold lots of weight from all the items you need moved. These boxes will not break and will keep your items safe and secure. However, have you ever had moving boxes that are weak and have been used too many times to be useful. They may be wet, they may be worn, they may be missing a lid, they may have a slight tear or hole in them and they may have no use as a box anymore.

What if these weak boxes were the boxes that were given to the short kid from the tall kid. What might happen? The tall kid could have a box named mentoring and sponsorship and it could be given to the short kid. However, the tall kid did not tell the short kid that none of the mentors or sponsors in the box look like the short kid and some have never mentored a short kid. In fact, they are not comfortable with short kids at all because they did not grow up around any. Is this box still useful? The tall kid could have a box named C suite leadership and give it to the small kid. However, the tall kid did not tell the short kid when you use this box people may question whether a short kid like you are in the C suite just because you are short. Also people you are asked to lead within this box may say that nobody who looks like you has ever led them in their entire career. They are not comfortable with you having this box and have also expressed their concern to all of the kids involved in the game. Is this box sustainable? In short, the boxes being taken from the tall kid and given to the short kid must be examined before it is expected the short kid can use them. The boxes may not be useful or they may even be detrimental if used by the short kid. Keep in mind the boxes were not built with the short kid in mind. In fact, the boxes may have been built and used to oppress small kids. So to except the small kid to be use them for equitable success is quite ironic.

The Fence is Down – Is Equity Achieved?

The equity visual eventually shows a baseball game where there is no fence so all the kids can see without boxes. Whether short, medium or tall, all kids can now see the game. Is fence removal true equity or justice? I say probably not. When the kids see the game is it a game they all want to participate in? Is it a game that still oppresses short and medium size kids and benefits only tall kids? Is it a game that requires stopping this game and changing to another game? Do we need to analyze whether we should be playing a game in the first place? Justice only exists when the fence is down and disruption of a system built on racism and white supremacy is dismantled. No games can be played until this occurs and equity cannot be achieved.

We must realize that equity inclusion and diversity work will cause angst, fear, anxiety, pain and a feeling of loss. The new outcomes produced by equity and moving, replacing or destroying boxes will make people uncomfortable. It will not be a zero sum game. No more boxes are being produced and those who had many will now have fewer boxes when we create access for others to obtain the opportunities in the boxes.

Who moved YOUR BOX? Does it cause you to feel a little uneasy. Being uneasy and uncomfortable is what equity brings. Your boxes will be moved and true equity will make you feel discomfort. You might have to get used to it.

JB

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by four Minneapolis Police Officers. The murder of George Floyd caused the world to view, digest, reflect upon and never erase the image of this heinous crime. It was captured on video for 9:29. The thing about a murder is that you cannot take it back and you cannot do enough to make it go away. It does not go away. Nothing is never enough to make it go away. As we approach May 25, 2021, I want to answer this question for you so you will not have to ask anyone else. The question is, have we have done enough since the murder of George Floyd? The answer is simple, “No, we have not done enough.”

What can do to make it right after a murder? Is civil unrest enough? Is the termination of so called “bad apples” enough? Is a conviction enough? Is a tough sentence enough? Is the promise of police reform enough? Is it enough to promise to dismantle a racist system? What is enough? Nothing is enough, and we have not done enough since the murder of George Floyd.

Many people will ask you over the next few weeks how are you going to honor or memorialize George Floyd as we approach May 25, 2021. Some will host a listening session. Some will feature a keynote speaker. Some will host a prayer vigil. Some will host a healing circle. Some will plan a policy discussion on police reform. Some will make another statement. Some will do an inventory of their diversity, equity and inclusion work.

Some will ask Black people what they should do. Some will ask Black people what they should do. Some will ask Black people what they should do.

Asking Black people what to do may not always be the best solution. People that have been severely traumatized by racism should not always be asked to solve the problem of racism.

We have not done enough to end racism before, during or after the murder of George Floyd. We can’t do enough to make it right by May 25, 2021. We must acknowledge systemic change cannot happen in a year. Systems change will take time, action and accountability. We must acknowledge that racism will not end in a year. Ending racism will take time, action and accountability. We must commit to the work. We must do the work. We must hold statement makers (me included) accountable. We must get results.

On May 25, 2021, I’m going to acknowledge the wrongful murder of George Floyd seen by the world. I am going to pray for the victims of police and community violence. I will do something to end systems that promote racial inequality. On May 25, 2021, I will continue to fight for equity.

What will you do? How long will you do it? Will it be transformative and not performative? Will it help change, disrupt or dismantle an inequitable system?

JB

President Joe Biden acknowledges the existence of systemic racism and white supremacy in America and the negative impact both have had, and are having, on our country. United States Senators Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell state that systemic racism does not exist in America. United States Senator Tim Scott stated recently that America is not a racist country and Vice President Kamala Harris also indicated recently that America is not a racist country, although she also acknowledges that “we need to speak truth about the history of racism and the current existence of racism in this country.” Are you as confused as I am with these very political responses? Well, let me just put this issue to rest, America is a Racist Country and I have the receipts to prove it. Let me show you in 10 easy steps. There are more than 10 steps, but I will let you research the others on your own.

1. America is a stolen land. Before it became the United States of America, this land was discovered and occupied by Native Americans. The land was taken, no stolen, from Native Americans because of their race and they were murdered and imprisoned so that America could exist on what once was Native land. America was founded, no stolen, as as act of racism.

2. America is a land built by stolen people. In 1619, and by some accounts before 1619, slaves (human beings) were purchased and stolen from Africa then taken to America in slave ships. Many died during the savage Middle Passage, and those that didn’t were brutally enslaved, raped, murdered and treated worst than animals from 1619 – 1865. 1865 or Juneteenth, as we call it now, did not end the brutal treatment, it just changed the name. The foundation of America was built on racism.

3. America created and enforced slave codes, ignored the freedoms of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments for Black people, and lynched Black people regularly through celebrated lynchings at family picnics with kids and grandparents. America also created a policing system built by and for the Klu Klux Klan that enforced racist ideology. America showcased its racism for all of the world to see as it built a racist nation.

4. America created a military system that recruited and deployed soldiers based up their race. Black soldiers could not room with white soldiers; Black soldiers could not use the same restrooms as white soldiers; Black soldiers could not fight in the same battalions as white soldiers and when they returned home from war, Black soldiers could not get jobs, buy homes, eat at restaurants or attend schools because of their race. America has consistently withheld opportunities from Black Americans because of their race.

5. America has a rich history of racism. The 3/5 clause stated that Black people are not fully a person when all men were supposedly created equal. Many court cases have enforced raciam in this country as well. The cases have held: slaves are property that can be transported to free states and still not be free; free slaves have no rights to own property or to vote; private companies, that do not engage in interstate commerce, can freely discriminate against people based on race; Asian American citizens can be held in illegal war campus because of their race; housing deeds can restrict the transfer of property on the basis of race; housing loans can be restricted based upon race; and education can be offered in a discriminatory and racist manner as long as it is separate and supposedly equal. There are many more legal cases that reveal the legal foundation of racism that built America.

6. America has a whole history we call the civil rights movement that is the product of racism. Black people were beaten by police for peacefully walking across bridges in Alabama. Black people were attacked by dogs and tortured by water hoses because they wanted the right to vote. Black people were spat on and had hot coffee poured on them because they wanted to eat at the same counter as white people. Black People and others were assassinated because they fought for the civil rights of others. Racism in America necessitated an entire movement for civil rights.

7. Police have continued to kill unarmed Black people and the justice system has not consistently held officers accountable for these killings. Policing in America is impacted by systemic racism.

8. Asian American families cannot enjoy the freedoms of life in America without being violently abused and assaulted because of their race. Asian Americans (collectively) are also unjustly branded as the cause of a deadly virus because of their race.

9. Black, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans are not adequately represented in the C suites of American corporations. Systemic racism has caused this to occur.

10. Racism is a public health issue, yet healthcare disparities, economic disparities, education disparities, employment disparities, housing disparities, criminal justice system disparities and all other types of racial disparities exist because of racism. I guess racism is not really a public health issue we want to address.

My receipts add up. The history is undisputed. The record is clear. The impact of racism in America on Black, Latino, Asian and Native American communities is evident.

America is a racist country built on the foundations of colonialism, racism, genocide, lynchings, segregation, anti-immigration, white supremacy and systemic inequality. If we are to address the public health issue of racism and dismantle the systems that created and enable it, we must admit the obvious – We are racist country, but we don’t have to continue to be. We can change it. We must change it. We will change it.

The first step towards Truth and Reconciliation is…………

TRUTH!

JB