Introduction

The summer of 2020 will be long ingrained into our social and individual consciousness due to COVID and the horrific murder of George Floyd, a black man.  George’s murder by white police officers, captured on video for the world to see, sparked outrage around the globe.  So what, you may be asking, does that have to do with the business world.

Racial bias workshops just won’t do any more.  Employers and business leaders need to respond to racism by taking substantial action.  Merely throwing out politically correct corporate statements needs to be over.  It is time for leaders who are committed to racial justice to create a business strategy to actively and strategically address racial inequity in their workplace (and society).  Systemic racism can be fought by American businesses.  Indeed, many U.S. corporate boardrooms have already begun the fight through hiring practices, funding organizations and movements working to eradicate racism, and using their political power to influence federal and state legislation. But what steps can employers begin doing – today – to enhance their workplace culture to racial equity and belonging?  Discussing white privilege  and unconscious bias is a starting tactic.

Dr. Francis Kendall states “For those of us who are white, one of our privileges is that we see ourselves as individuals, “just people,” part of the human race. Most of us are clear, however, that people whose skin is not white are members of a race.  Being born white provides privileges that other races in the U.S. do not have.  Other races may “earn” privilege but are not “born” with privilege due to the color of their skin. 

Unconscious bias, something we all have built into our DNA, does not mean we are bad people.  How does unconscious bias work against Blacks?  How does it support white privilege?  How does it maintain the status quo? 

Discussing the issues addressed in this webinar may be uncomfortable—that’s the way it should be, difficult as it is.  Discomfort is required for change.

Learning Objectives

• To discuss Black Lives Matter and its role in your workplace culture
• To define racism
• To explore vicarious racism’s effect on us all
• To critique white privilege
• To illustrate unconscious bias
• To use a systems approach in creating and sustaining an anti-racist culture

Why should you attend?

• The learning objectives identify the benefits.
• Specific tactics employers can implement to build a workplace culture of race equity
• Resources – internet and print

Who Will Benefit

• All industries
• professions Senior management
• middle management
• Human Resources Professionals
• Employee Resource Groups