The Journey that is Racial Equity Growth

Racial equity growth as a group is a simultaneous process of personal, internal work and tactical, external work–all of which requires behavior adjustments, checking of our biases, and a collective commitment to holding each other accountable. Like any journey, there are rest stops, vantage points, and navigational resets depending on circumstances outside of your control, or a change in priorities.

Racial equity inquiry surfaces questions about procedures, policies, and practices that can sometimes feel overwhelming. And sometimes what is surfaced can make us feel defensive. Dominant white cultural norms don’t equip us with the skills to manage for this in a culturally responsive way. The feelings are normal, and with practice learning together, the feelings can change. It is exciting to see how we can root this new lens of prioritizing equity (and racial equity) more fully in all we do, one intentional step at a time.

Additional Resources

Here are a few books you may find interesting on your personal racial equity journeys:

• Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence by Derald Wing Sue

• Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji

• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

• Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge