This month SELF interviewed nineBlack journalistsabout how they werecopingwhile covering the news.
So its a good time to remindwhite and non-Black allies: The fight for justice is long.
And many of your Black colleagues arestillnot okay.
Josephine Rais/Adobe Stock
Being an ally is about having a voice and standing up when you see injustice.
Below, weve compiled a list of ways you might continue to show up for your Black colleagues.
Educate yourself on how racism can present in the workplace.
Because then, no one is silenced.
Dont automatically expect your Black coworkers to talk to you about race.
Find concrete ways to support Black colleagues.
Asking how someone is doing comes from a good place, right?
And during the pandemic,it has been an opportunityfor us all to be more honest.
This is especially important if your colleague doesnt want to talk to you about how they feel.
Its also very helpful if youre a manager.
There are only a few Black attorneys, she tells SELF.
And there was no individualized inquiry into our well-being from higher-ups.
Allow your Black colleagues space to express themselves or be silent.
And if they do, dont rush to change the subject out of your own discomfort.
Listen to your Black coworkers.
Most important, this isnt limited to when theyre talking about racism.
Listen when theyre doing the jobs they were hired to perform.
Elevate your Black coworkers in meetings and other professional options.
When you agree with a Black colleagues idea or appreciate their contributions, be vocal about it.
Be transparent about your pay.
Money conversationscan be uncomfortable, but being open about salaries makes pay inequities harder to maintain.
(Dont push anyone, and dont assume youre making more.
Its entirely possible that salary transparency will benefityouas well.)
If youre a manager, examine your recruiting and hiring practices.
But creating real diversity and inclusion doesnt stop at hiring and things like implicit bias training.
Cummings asks: What is the root issue at your organization that youre not talking about?
Most of the issues fall into one of those four categories, she says.
Remember that you’re free to make an impact, even if youre not a manager.
She asks: How does whats going on in the world impact your work?
I believe everyone is a leader, Cummings explains.
I do not care if youre an executive assistant or if you are a CEO.
Plan for a marathon, not a sprint.
Initiatives like town halls wont be helpful if theres no follow-up and no action plan, Cienne says.
Expect to make mistakes.
It can be very hard to find the right words to navigate the moment, Cummings admits.
And truthfully, when youre trying to speak out against racism, you might say the wrong things.
White supremacy thrives, in part, when people ignore its existence.
If you arent getting corrected or having uncomfortable conversations, theres a strong chance youre not taking many risks.
*Name has been changed.
