Dear Leaders Who Don't Know What to Say,

I am writing this to you with hope that it is useful, that it helps spur you to action, to use your voice, your privilege, your resources and power for change.

I hope it encourages you to Leader UP.

“I don’t know what to say.”

Say something. People want and need to hear from you. Why? Because you are their leader. They are counting on you, waiting for you, expecting you to speak up, to listen and acknowledge their perspectives, to share yours, and to offer hope.

You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to wholly repent with your face in your hands for something that is older and bigger than you. This is not a new problem. It is not unprecedented. It is older than you, yes, but it commands your attention, your deep listening, your voice, and your action. Now.

There is no such thing as a neutral stance in the face of injustice. As Desmond Tutu taught us, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

So, you do have to speak up. You do have to use the voice that the privilege of leadership has lent you. Now is the time to talk about your most important values and beliefs, what you commit to learning, how you will listen, and what you will do.

It is time to listen and then to speak up.

It is your time to follow and then to lead.

Follow the lead of the people who are most deeply affected by the racism that devastates our collective humanity and to vow to make it better. Then keep your vows.

Before you ask Black people to engage with you, ask yourself, ‘how will I listen?’ What will I do with what I hear?” Then listen, fully listen. Ask only if and when you are committed to act. Otherwise you are wasting time Black people do not have to give you.

Racism is all around you- it is in you. It is deeply rooted, systemic and insidious. Racism is your problem to solve. Start by acknowledging that truth, by taking responsibility for making things better in every part of the world you touch.

Voice your outrage at the utter disregard for the lives of Black Americans by police and others. Denounce the atrocity of calling police on Black people engaging in everyday activities. Acknowledge that the threats to Black Americans are ever-present. Commit to aggressively search out racism where it exists and is perpetuated. Start in your organization, on your teams, in you- and commit to eradicating it.

You can begin by asking yourself these essential questions posed by Anthea Kelsick, Co-CEO of B Labs:

What am I doing today?
How am I educating myself and my stakeholders about structural racism?
How am I holding space to allow for conversations about structural racism in my company?
What practices does my company have in place to support Black and People of Color team members?
How am I supporting Black and People of Color business leaders that are in the B Corp community or other communities I’m a part of?
How am I supporting civic engagement to hold public leaders accountable and tackle structural racism in our systems of government?

It’s ok to not have all the answers to these questions. It is not ok for us to avoid seeking answers, or to avoid challenging ourselves and each other. We must go on a journey, together, to take action.

Here are some resources- please add others in the comments.

Tackling Racism As Accountable Business Leaders
https://bcorporation.net/tackling-racism-accountable-business-leaders?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=social_post

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234

Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/05/9841376/black-trauma-george-floyd-dear-white-people

Why I’m Not Racist is Only Half the Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzLT54QjclA

For Our White Friends Desiring to be Allies
https://sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies

Before You Call the Cops: The Tyler Merritt Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKeITMzMn7w&feature=youtu.be

Trevor Noah: George Floyd, the Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper
https://www.facebook.com/TrevorNoah/videos/271546193965209/

Music Industry Calls for Tuesday Blackout as Labels, Managers Show Solidarity With Black Community on Social Media
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/music-industry-companies-blackout-george-floyd-solidarity-1234620870/

An Antiracist Reading List
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html

‘Standing in the gap’: One part of allyship that gets overlooked
https://www.fastcompany.com/90512421/standing-in-the-gap-one-part-of-allyship-that-gets-overlooked

Support Black-Owned Businesses: 181 Places to Start Online
https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/support-black-owned-businesses/

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Corey Jamison brings more than 30 years of experience partnering with executives and teams around the globe to drive dramatic, sustainable organizational transformation. She has worked with leaders at all levels of some of the largest brands, and offers a level of experience, acumen, partnership and courage that inspires leaders and teams toward the hard work of taking it to the next level.

Let’s connect.

Corey Jamison