As we celebrate Black history this month, I wonder how we can be more intentional about supporting Black well-being. Here are a few basic ways to start.
Pay Black people for the extra work you expect them to do.
After the George Floyd protests of last summer, there was an awakening for some people that race relations in the USA are altogether dysfunctional. As a huge proponent of awareness as the first step to positive action, I was totally here for it.
Where I lost enthusiasm was seeing all my Black professional women friends asked to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for free. Knowing the daily challenge of navigating a world designed for white dudes to thrive, I thought it was ridiculous to add this to the task list of Black women without compensatory administrative time and/or money.
Similarly annoying to me is when organizations asking intramural Black employees to do extra work for free hire a non-Black extramural consultant to address DEI issues. That truly make zero sense to me.
Hire Black people for the jobs they already do.
Lots of Black people have businesses that require patronage. It is lovely to give money to a charity fueling the empowerment of Black communities. I suggest it is more empowering to give money directly to a Black person for the goods and services they are providing as their vocation.
There are plenty of Black professionals who could use your business or your referral. If your organization can’t bring itself to compensate its Black employees for extra mental and emotional labor outside their job description, at least hire a Black consultant.
I am also an advocate of outsourcing what is outside of your unique brilliance. You can help yourself and the Black community by employing a Black-owned company for the stuff you choose not to do.
Trust Black people when it comes to human behavior.
In order to navigate the USA safely and successfully, Black people have to understand and be mindful of the behavior and beliefs of most other people. We often have lived experiences that allow us to observe both the benevolent and belligerent tendencies of people in a community.
We don’t automatically assume a large group of Black people is dangerous. Similarly, we don’t need to see the US Capitol stormed to recognize a local realtor may become a violent insurrectionist. It can be exhausting to require video evidence of egregious actions or a white person’s corroboration for our narratives to be believed.
I invite those who don’t have these habits to consider what needs to happen for you to support Black well-being in these ways. Likewise, I genuinely thank those who already do.
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Dr Jattu Senesie is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, certified success coach, physician satisfaction specialist and speaker. She blogs about issues of self care and well-being in an effort to help her fellow altruistic high achievers find satisfaction in their success as early in their careers as possible.
