Hello and welcome to ToyBox - a blog that unpacks systemic racism and the workplace. This is our 4th edition and we have 67 Toy Box members, up from 56 last week. Thank you so much for your support and shares! Only 33 more until we reach 100! If you know someone who wants to learn more about systemic racism in the workplace, send them an invite:
Discrimination in hiring part II
We learned last week that human unconscious bias and systemic racism make most hiring processes difficult for people of color to navigate. This week, we’re focusing specifically on the first stage of the hiring process - the application and resume screen. Partnering with Black & Latinx organizations to create diverse pipelines is a great first step, but it falls flat if evaluation metrics are ripe with bias. Check out the unpacked section for a walkthrough on how resume screens filter out qualified Black applicants.
You ask, we answer
Question: How can this movement influence policy most directly?
Answer: By lobbying aggressively at the state & local level. Last week, we lost John Lewis and C. T. Vivian - two pillars of the civil rights movement. Through stubborn determination, they fought for voting rights & civil rights for oppressed Americans. But less attention is given to their grassroots efforts. John Lewis worked on the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This committee worked in many parts of the south to register Black voters and put Black candidates on the ballot, leveraging the support of Northern White allies. This local action set the stage for the federal action we read about in our textbooks. Want to make a concrete policy change? Go to a town hall meeting and ask your representatives to publish a #BlackLivesMatter equity agenda.
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How to be an ally at work this week
Send this email to HR suggesting a diversity employee referral program. Of course, there’s a lot more to be done than just instituting that one policy. And these types of policies can end up relying on tokenism when not done correctly. But suggesting this type of program will start the conversation at your company about putting money behind their aspirations of a diverse & inclusive workplace. If you’re looking for young diverse talent to refer, check out SEO, MLT, and the Black club at your alma mater.
Educational resources
Dealing with activism fatigue (Stanford)
RIP John Lewis
And may we all embody his radical love for humanity.
The Hiring Toy Box part II
We’re trying something different this week. The Unpacked section will be a series of infographics. Let us know what you think!
See you next week!
Next week, we will discuss the state of the economy, its effects on Black American workers, and what you can do to help.
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