Navigating difficulty, discomfort, and messiness in racial equity work

Most people committed to racial equity in the workplace expect there to be challenges and discomfort. But you may not realize how messy it can get until you’re in the thick of it. 

Racial equity work is messy because we have to unravel centuries of embedded biases and prejudices. It requires people to acknowledge the privileges they hold while dismantling power dynamics. 

It’s uncomfortable but necessary. Diving into a history tainted with slavery, colonization, and genocide means our discomfort is deeply rooted in the historical legacies of oppression. But confronting this history is an essential step toward healing.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” 

The discomfort and conflict inherent in racial equity work is not a barrier to progress, but a catalyst for change. It means we’re departing from complacency and upholding a commitment to dismantle systemic racism.

📕Grab your copy of Hear Us Now: Racial Equity in the Workplace to learn more about embracing discomfort and disruption in racial equity work. 

🛡️Chapter 8 shows us that messiness is not a sign of failure. Seven leaders share their stories on how they navigated difficult situations, discomfort, and the disorderliness of racial equity work. Leaders like … 

who encourages people to lead strategically with love. 

He says that he isn’t in the front of every march or at every press conference to try and speak louder than everyone else. He hopes to show people that he isn’t doing this work because it’s the right thing for him, but because it’s the right thing for all of us. 

“All we have is our deeds at the end of the day,” Nathaniel says. “I think sometimes that commitment to showing up can be uncomfortable for some people. And it could be tough for me, too, to be in a position where I’m trying to show up in a positive way. Again, for me, it’s never personal. It’s just about right or wrong.”

speaks about the experiences of being uncomfortable together, for collective growth.

“My experience is that it reinforces a trust that we can kind of work through anything that comes up, like any other relationship that’s valuable. Often, it doesn’t feel amazing, but it certainly will feel invigorating and fulfilling. And so, again, we are here with purpose, and we ought not ever forget that we all have value and are contributing to our collective thrive.” 

says messiness in racial equity work is inevitable, so let’s normalize it. 

“We now normalize difficult conversations as being a part of the racial equity work that we do. We’ve built our relationship repair skills, and we bring grace along with accountability. It will be messy, but we can move through the messiness and the imperfections as a part of work when we normalize difficult conversations.” 

The potential heaviness of racial equity work requires us to lean on each other’s humanity, and enter every conversation with an open mind. Tackling systemic injustices demands our commitment, especially when it gets uncomfortable. That’s when you know the “work” is working.  

Do you want more details on how to live into that commitment? 

Hear Us Now: Racial Equity in the Workplace is available for purchase. If you want a closer look at each chapter, also be sure to subscribe to this newsletter for weekly breakdowns.