Search Results

Her leadership highlights the importance of fighting for and building up community and the collective His leadership was pivotal in the Haitian Revolution. Courage, leadership and tactical thinking were some of Toussaint's main values or strengths.  Sharpe's sacrifice and leadership left an indelible mark on the struggle for liberty. Values and lessons from the emancipation movement Courage and leadership: The bravery and leadership

Integrate culture with leadership and innovation. For example, CQ knowledge and skills should be entwined with leadership, training, and education programs

More than inspirational words, his leadership skills also had practical implications. Burns also provides leadership beyond the boardroom , working with community and non-profit organizations

extensive experience, notices a troubling trend: talented women of color are consistently overlooked for leadership

Photo credit: Museum of Cambridge This post will explore historical Black leadership and resistance. The founder of the Mali Empire in the 13th century, Sundiata Keita was known for his inclusive leadership Tying Leadership to Legacy Just as African rulers, Black European Royals, and Black Indigenous Americans The spirit of resistance and leadership existed long before the abolitionist movement . Together, you can learn, honour, and share the deep and powerful history of Black leadership to reshape

Facilitated discussions that promote bias literacy, diversity and inclusion , and inclusive leadership She focuses on topics like anti-Black racism, inclusive leadership, and cultural intelligence.

founder of Tough Convos, and a management consultant who specializes in anti-black racism, inclusive leadership

Jason Burke, and continued to explore ways to connect brands, corporations and individuals with thought leadership We can then action the “Content Outlines” to create thought leadership content that converts on our preferred

stereotype , people misinterpret Black women's assertiveness for aggression instead of confidence and great leadership

Image from Wix media As workplaces become more diverse, there is a growing need to create a work environment that supports individuals from different backgrounds and identities. Allyship is a tool, a way of being and acting, that helps create an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and respected. It highlights persistent systemic inequalities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status, and aims to ameliorate real workspaces with more inclusive company culture so everyone can win. Table of Contents: Champions of Allyship Tarana Burke — Responding to Microaggressions and Bias Emma Watson & the UN — Educating Yourself Tim Cook — Advocating for Racial Equality HSBC & Deloitte — the Merits of Blind Hiring Be a Better Ally Allyship in the Workplace Champions of Allyship Several people and brands have taken a bold step to speak up and draw attention to some common injustices. These allies have used their positions and voices to create a better world and paved the way for a more conscious and inclusive society. Tarana Burke — Responding to Microaggressions and Bias Image from Shamia Casiano — Pexels As the founder of the Me Too movement, Tarana Burke has given voice to millions of survivors of sexual violence. Burke's commitment to social justice began early, working with young people in Alabama, where she tackled issues of racial discrimination and economic hardship. This passion for creating a more equitable world would become the driving force behind her life's work. In the mid-2000s, while working with survivors of sexual violence, Burke noticed that many women, particularly those from marginalized communities, felt silenced and alone. To address this, Burke coined the phrase "Me Too." The #MeToo movement has ignited a global conversation about sexual assault and the impact of microaggressions on mental health and well-being. It's a call to action to support survivors, dismantle the systems that perpetuate abuse, and prevent future assaults. Though the work continues, the awareness created and the conversations still being had are a testament to an ally's ability to create change. Emma Watson & the UN — Educating Yourself Through her work with the HeForShe campaign, Emma Watson has encouraged men to educate themselves about gender inequality and become allies in the fight for equality. The global movement by the United Nations tackles negative gender stereotypes and calls on everyone to fight for gender equality. It encourages men to challenge traditional norms and advocate for equal rights and opportunities. Notable allies in this movement include Hollywood actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, who are vocal advocates for gender equality. Cumberbatch and Hiddleston were among the first male celebrities to publicly endorse the campaign, amplifying its message and advancing the movement. Tim Cook — Advocating for Racial Equality Apple's CEO has been at the forefront of allyship for many years. Tim Cook's commitment to social and racial justice is personal, as he grew up in segregated Alabama and has witnessed firsthand the effects of inequality and discrimination. During Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, Tim addressed the topics of racism, inequality, and injustice in his keynote speech. Cook unveiled Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), a global effort aimed at fostering equity and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and indigenous populations. Since 2020, Apple has dedicated over $200 million to support education, equality, and criminal justice. Notably, $25 million of this funding has been allocated to three venture funds — Collab Capital, Harlem Capital, and VamosVentures — that support minority-owned businesses. In education, Apple partnered with California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) to launch STEAM Max. The program uses REJI's Learning Challenge Series to engage learners in identifying and addressing real-world challenges within their communities. As part of the program, CSUDH hosts students, teachers, and school leaders at its CISE lab, where they collaboratively tackle these challenges head-on. Each participant gets an iPad for the duration of the program and has the exciting opportunity to work on a college campus once a month for five months. HSBC & Deloitte — the Merits of Blind Hiring Companies like HSBC and Deloitte have implemented blind hiring as part of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and many more are adopting this process. But what is blind hiring, and how does it work? In blind hiring, a prospective candidate's personal information is blocked out to eliminate influence or bias that would otherwise affect the hiring decision. By excluding a candidate's personal details from the hiring process, every applicant gets a fair chance, as they are assessed only by merit rather than other factors such as ethnicity, race or gender. Building a more diverse and innovative team one hire at a time. Be a Better Ally Historically, various groups have been marginalized based on various factors such as gender and race. Although leaders are tasked with formulating policies that encourage inclusivity, anyone at any level can be an ally. For instance, as a man, you can become an ally of women. If you are capable, you can advocate for people with disabilities. Here are some ways to practice allyship and start making a difference: Begin by looking within. Being a better ally should start with an examination of your own life. For example, as a white person, you can look at the areas where white people are granted privilege over people of colour. If you're a parent raising multiracial children, encourage them to embrace all aspects of their heritage and explore their cultural backgrounds with pride. Find things you're passionate about. If you're not sure what you can do to become an ally, you can start with the things you care about. You are more likely to make an impact in an area that you're passionate about and contribute to a more inclusive society. Allyship in the Workplace We spend up to a third of our lives in the workplace, so it's important to be proactive in creating an inclusive environment. For instance, if you witness microaggressions at work, you can calmly point out the inappropriate behaviour and its impact while providing support to the individual targeted. Businesses that promote active allyship create inclusivity and a sense of belonging to their employees. This can extend beyond the workplace and foster more diverse interpersonal relationships that can lead to a deeper cultural awareness and agility in multicultural spaces. Being a champion for allyship is not meant to be added work to your daily routine but rather a mindset shift, a value system you live by and integrate into your way of operating at work and in life. The more you personalize your allyship journey with causes you care about, the more natural it will become. Our Allyship Journal will help you discover your why and equip you with practical tips to become an ally you're proud of.

both leaders of their movements, where MLK served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership In many instances, Malcolm X criticized MLK and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for appeasing

Yes, it’s a fact that Black refugees are treated differently — just as Black people continue to be subjected to similar behaviour and attitudes by others. But then, one must wonder: why are Black people, like the Black Africans in Ukraine, being treated differently? This million-dollar question has been haunting us for decades. But before we answer this question, we need to establish what a refugee is. Table of Contents: What Is a Refugee? What Are the Challenges Black International Students Face? Why Are Black Refugees Treated Differently Than White Refugees? Refugee Hostility and Racism — a Lethal Combination A Need for Equality at Our Borders What Is a Refugee? In general, a refugee is someone who has been displaced or forced to flee their country because of a major natural catastrophe, war, oppression, persecution, or some other grave misfortune. The United Nations has its own formal legal definition of who a refugee is and recognizes their basic freedoms and rights, which include non-refoulement (not to be returned to places where their life or freedom is at risk because of 'race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion'), freedom of movement, liberty and security, family life, and so on. What Are the Challenges Black International Students Face? Glaring incidents of discrimination against Black international students and other people of colour have been reported in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing refugee crisis. Based on the accounts of an Indian medical student and a number of African international students from Ghana, Morocco and Nigeria, Ukrainian security forces and border officials on the Ukrainian side of the border going to Poland would allow a few hundred Ukrainians (whites) through before letting a handful of Black or coloured people pass to the other side. These reports have caught the attention of the international community. However, Ukrainian border officials have been quick to downplay such claims, saying that everything happening at the border is within the bounds of the law. Moreover, they deny any incident of discrimination against any ‘nation, citizenship or class’ ever taking place in the borders where thousands continue to flock, patiently awaiting their turn to exit Ukraine. Why Are Black Refugees Treated Differently Than White Refugees? There have been eyewitness accounts about discrimination based on skin colour happening at the U.S.-Mexico border where some Ukrainian refugees have gone to seek asylum in the United States. Observers say that a large number of Ukrainians have been processed and allowed entry into the country, even when refugees from Syria, Haiti and Cameroon continue to be turned away. However, what’s happening to Black (and coloured) refugees in the U.S. and Ukraine is not an isolated incident. Back in the 1980s, when dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier was still in power in Haiti, the United States turned away nearly 23,000 Haitians fleeing their country. Again, in the 1990s, 37,000 Haitians sought refuge in the United States after the 1991 military coup meant to topple then-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. During that time, only 300 Haitians were granted asylum. Today, thousands of Haitian refugees are still waiting to be granted asylum in the U.S. There are reports of border patrol officers hitting Haitian refugees with reins, aside from the forcible repatriation of thousands of Haitian refugees from the United States. Refugee Hostility and Racism — a Lethal Combination Skin colour differences aside, there already exists the concept of anti-refugee hostility and a longstanding perception that refugees and immigrants pose certain threats to local residents of a country. According to a study conducted in Germany, people perceive six types of threats posed by refugees, namely: Symbolic threat: This stems from the belief that the migrants’, aliens’, or foreigners’ culture and religion pose a threat to a person’s way of life. Realistic threat: The perception that foreigners will steal jobs or that their cheap labour will negatively impact salaries and wages. Safety threat: Immigrants are viewed as a disorderly lot prone to committing crimes. Cohesion threat: People view refugees and migrants in general as outsiders who threaten solidarity and peace by being the source of chaos and conflict. Prejudice threat: This is rooted in fears of increasing xenophobia or racist and right-wing views. Altruistic threat: Some people worry about their country not being able to provide the necessary aid or support to refugees. Then there’s the longstanding racism Blacks and other coloured people have been subjected to since the Europeans began exploring, invading and colonizing the rest of the world. Of all people of colour, the Blacks have always borne the brunt of the inherent prejudice that has led to the commodification of Black Africans. This anti-Black racism has resulted in the historical subjugation, exploitation, and degradation of Black people and their cultures. And while Black people from different parts of the world experience varying degrees of anti-Black racism today, no one is truly spared from it — including Black Caribbeans, African Americans and Black Canadians. Old stereotypes and injustices continue to be perpetuated not only by people but also by governments and other institutions. So, when you combine anti-refugee hostility with anti-Black racism, you have a lethal combination of feelings and perceptions that can lead to violent confrontations, injustices, and even the loss of life. A Need for Equality at Our Borders Compared to decades ago, the prominence of Black celebrities and leaders make it seem that Black people have it good today. However the reality remains, a small group of uber successful Black folks does not erase the reality for the majority or other Black folks around the world. We continue to have leaders who lack the political will to challenge the status quo. And while laws and policies designed to protect and uphold the rights of refugees exist, it appears that they are implemented selectively — usually in favour of white asylum seekers. So much of the misconceptions about Black people are so deeply rooted in society. It will take the combined efforts of Black leaders, allies and civil society to compel racists to come to terms with the truth: we are all connected and our long-term welfare and survival rest in how we treat one another, regardless of class, gender and ethnicity. This Refugee Week, let’s start having these dialogues and break stereotypes and misconceptions that divide and hurt us. It doesn’t matter if we start at home, in the workplace, on the streets, in the halls of congress, or the larger community. We need to continue to have tough conversations about things that matter. Unsure how to start? Get in touch with Tough Convos today!