Today we celebrate and honor the extraordinary life and impact of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his tireless work to "cultivating a beloved community mindset to transform unjust systems."
In Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, the line about not judging his children "by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" is too often woefully interpreted as justification to invalidate the importance of affirmative action or any race-centered solution to centuries of historical injustice. Essentially, his views, stance and beliefs are for us not to be colorblind but color kind!
We have the opportunity and duty to continue his work. In his spirit, I'd like to ask you a question. When it comes to talking about race, are you colorblind?
This topic arose during the #RootCauseRacism® Colors of Love webinar panel in 2021. The conversation inspired the BIPOC A&A (Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Allies & Accomplices) group within Women In Lean - Our Table. to create a powerful new video to help people understand the impacts of racial "colorblindness" and move to a better way of being in community with one another. A society that doesn't see colorblindness as a solution to right inequity and injustice.
I encourage you to watch the video, download the "Calls to Action" document and commit to being part of the change within your circle of influence! 💚❤️✊🏾✊🏼
Kudos to my WIL-BIPOCAA colleagues and sisters from across the globe who collaborated to boldly and bravely bring this project to fruition. What a magnificent way to dismantle racism, one conversation, one small step and one action at a time!
To quote my great friend and Lean Six Sigma expert, THEE Elisabeth Swan:
“This is many things; a great vehicle for anti-racism discussions, a set of tools for HR to engage staff in crucial conversations, and something you can pass along to groups and individuals for education and uplift. Enjoy and circulate with pride!”
Thank you Deondra for a new vocabulary around Dr. King's words --be color kind. I will take this with me today and always. 💜