Don't ask 'What Can I do?' . . . say 'What I Can Do Is'
In the wake of the current spotlight on police brutality, civil unrest, and the challenges black people face in the United States on a daily basis you might be asking yourself “What Can I do?” to support racial justice and fight racism.
Joshua Escalante Troesh, CFP | MBA
“It’s not the responsibility of others to tell me how I can help society become a better society. It’s my responsibility to identify the actions I can take, no matter how small, to move society in the direction of justice.”
For some, “What Can I Do?” is a sincere question. How can they help America become a more just and fair society for all people, but especially for black people who face a long, brutal history of racism. For others, the question is a defense mechanism to claim impotence to be able to help with such a large societal issue. Fundamentally, though, it’s the wrong order of the words. Instead we should state “What I Can Do Is . . .”
It’s not the responsibility of others to tell me how I can help society become a better society. It’s my responsibility to identify the actions I can take, no matter how small, to move society in the direction of justice.
In this spirit, below is my statement of #WhatICanDo to make the part of America I have influence over a more just and safe society for black people and all people. My desire is that by sharing the actions I can take in my own lives, and when others do the same, we can inspire each other to take action, better hold ourselves accountable for fighting against racism, and maybe even stop placing the onus of figuring out how to fix the problem on the victims of the problem.
To get ideas in your own life, you can also check out #HowCanIHelp? or visit other links in this post from a veriety of sources including the Harvard Business Review, Women’s Health, Business Journal, and Psychology Today. The fight for justice is a shared struggle, even if some bear more of the weight.
#HowCanIHelp: At My College
We can always look for opportunities to use our influence at work to shape a better world, whether we are an officer, manager, or collegue.
Tuesday, my college’s Academic Senate, of which I am an officer, unanimously passed a resolution against racism and in support of our black students, staff, and community. I will also introduce a motion next week asking the college Police Department to present to Senate the trainings, systems, and other methods they use to ensure black students and other community members are treated fairly and with justice by officers.
Our Academic Senate and I have a position of influence and power on the campus, it is important we uphold our responsibility to ensure black students and community members are, in fact, treated fairly. And if not, to use our influence to push our Police Department to become a better version of itself.
#HowCanIHelp: Modeling Anti-Racism with Our Children
Being in a mixed-race marriage, my wife and I are aware of the potential impact of racism on our children. We are lucky it is easy for us to give our children positive experiences with people of all races as we have friends of every race who are loving toward our children. We also have age-appropriate conversations about racism and injustice to help guide our children toward a better future.
Over the past week, my wife and I have had many emotional conversations about racism and the struggles of black people in our society — including conversations about the sad or infuriating responses by some to the killing of George Floyd and other current events. We have not hid these conversations from our children or done them behind closed doors. Instead, we have these conversations in front of our children (age 1 and 3) so they can see the challenges society faces and how we respond to injustice and racism.
#HowCanIHelp: Reaching Out to Friends and Clients
I also reached out to my black clients and friends to ask how they were and to express that, while I don’t understand their experience, I understand how difficult the previous week had been. It’s not a big thing and it’s not something to be applauded. It’s literally just being a good friend and person.
But even simply reaching out is important so those struggling with the experience of racism and injustice know they are not alone. And that the hate highlighted on social media, in traditional media, and through the actions of some in power is not the only voice in our world.
#HowCanIHelp: Be A Sounding Board
My wife and I have also been a sounding board for each other about how to respond to posts we see on social media that are insensitive, diminish the seriousness of racism, or are even racist themselves. My wife has definitely been the stronger voice in this, as I tend not to engage much on social media and I have muted many people. I am so thankful for her voice.
It’s A Start
The above isn’t everything I can do, but it’s a start.