I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of call out/cancel/shame culture. You’ve probably seen the Tweets of accusation and apology. You’ve probably also seen the tearful Facebook lives and seen Instagram accounts go quiet.
We are living at a time when calling out is all around us. Whether or not you agree with how it is used, the impact is felt deeply (especially as online business owners whose livelihoods are made by being visible and sharing about our lives).
And whilst I do believe there’s a place for calling out – especially to those who are repeatedly and knowingly causing harm – it can, in some instances, get in the way of racial equity work.
Let me explain.
When a well-meaning individual courageously takes the steps to dive into this work, only to make a mistake, say the wrong thing, offend, or potentially cause harm AND they get called out…
What follows are feelings of shame, guilt, and the impact of unfair judgement.
When shame, guilt, and judgement show up, it often takes away the ability for someone to take accountability for their actions in a way that allows them to keep doing and showing up for racial equity work.
Have you ever felt (or feared) that in some way?
You believe in this work and know it’s important, but you have seen the consequences of making public mistakes and messing up.
It’s a fear I understand and is one of the reasons I structured my 10-week course REPRESENTED in a way that allows you to come to this work as you are…messy, unsure, afraid, feeling guilty all of it so that together you can move to a place of empowerment releasing you to build a business that sees people from racially diverse backgrounds lining up to work with you, because they see you, they see your heart and they want to be connect to you and the amazing support you have to offer through your skills.
Over the years doing this work I’ve come across 3 common fears that get in the way and if these are coming up for you, here’s how we can work together to release the hold they might have on you.
Fear #1: “I’m afraid I’ll mess up or – even worse – I’ll be cancelled.”
Almost everyone who gets involved with this important work has this fear.
And I won’t sugarcoat it. This work can feel and sometimes is really messy.
It’s going to be that way – even if you do nothing.
But when you commit to educating yourself, your understanding will deepen, and you’ll be able to shift from a place of fear and apprehension to a place of not being silent anymore and taking allied action.
There is a lot of information out there, and it isn’t all in agreement. It can be difficult to discern who to listen to.
Especially in a still-evolving area, like diversity and inclusion, there will always be a chance of mistakes.
The question is: are you going to be prepared if they do happen?
You’ve already shown you’re willing to get into messy spaces.
You’re a trail-blazing business owner.
It is messy. AND it’s rewarding.
Fear #2: “There’s SOOOO much to do, how will I be able to run/grow my business AND stay consistent in this work?”
You don’t need to be perfect to do this work – you simply need to choose to do better.
When you unsubscribe from the toxic perfectionism that has you believing this work needs to look a certain way, be done at a certain pace, or that you’ve got to wait until you have it all figured out before you begin, you’ll realise just how simple it is to implement the work into your current lifestyle.
🎙️ Avid podcast listener? Start to consume more podcasts hosted by People of Colour to understand their perspectives and experiences.
💻 Love a good Netflix binge? Add a few documentaries and movies that’ll open your eyes to issues of race and representation into the rotation.
📚 Enjoy curling up with a good book? Read stories written by Black authors.
📱 Spend more time scrolling than you’d care to admit? Diversify your feed and follow more People of Colour, then intentionally engage with their content.
And NO, these DON’T all have to be on the topic of DEI.
When you learn from and engage with people who hold different identities to your own, you gain diversity of thought which allows you to start to shift the lens through which you see the world and tackle problems. Ultimately making you more inclusive and grow your business.
Fear #3: “What difference can I, as one person, really make?”
Let me turn that question around and ask you – why not you?
… Because you’re not a Person of Colour?
… Because you’re just one person?
… Because you don’t think you can make a difference?
Let’s take a look at the evidence:
You may not be a Person of Colour. But this work cannot be done by People of Colour alone. If that were true, we would’ve had this figured out long ago. We wouldn’t be where we are.
Allies, particularly those with influence and empathy, are vital to the work.
And while living in a bubble is something white people have the privilege to do, it’s not a sustainable practice for anyone in a leadership position.
It takes everyone – including you – to affect positive change.
You started a business because you believed you could create change and impact the lives of those you worked with. This work is a continuation of that.
My approach as a racial equity educator is not focused on blaming or shaming. My goal is to have real conversations in a brave space, so you can fully give yourself to the process. The lens with which I teach (both as a qualified coach and racial equity specialist) is through grace, kindness and love.
My experience when it comes to dealing with issues of race is that it’s easier to go deeper when you are not accusing or calling people names. When you appeal to someone’s highest self, it breaks down barriers and allows a foot in for greater vulnerability and dialogue. I’ve seen this often and have coached students through their discomfort and on to the other side of taking aligned action.
REPRESENTED is a mix of intimate group coaching calls and individual work meant to support and guide your journey (no matter how messy), so that you leave prepared to welcome people of colour into your courses and programs and lead with a heart for inclusivity and equity.
All you have to do is show up. Show up messy. Show up willing to do the work.
But, most importantly, show up.
With love,
Annie
