How Companies Can Address the Aftermath of George Floyd & Christian Cooper.

My workday on Wednesday May 27, 2020 started on a different foot. Before even getting out of bed, crust still in my eyes, I texted my business partner and Co-Founder of Say Space, Bianca Wilson:

“It feels like we gotta address the current events more than {going with our original plan for today.} What if we did a joint IG live {in an hour} to address this?”

Mind you: we had never done an IG live before. We had barely had time to process for ourselves how we each felt about George Floyd and Christian Cooper… never mind come out with a public statement about it.

Regardless, we knew we had to open up space for the conversation. Now.

Part of this is motivated by the work that we do: creating spaces for difficult conversations, for emotions, for creating Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive environments in workplaces. It would be strange *not* to speak up at this time — and yet there was still a part (of me) that wanted to figure out what to say… before I said anything.

The reality is, waiting to “say the right thing” is part of the reason we’re in this trouble to begin with.

When it comes to Race Relations in this country, there is a lot of fear on the side of White folks that has led to an elementary-level of competency re: knowing how to feel, speak or connect in times of blatant Racist behavior. There is the disconnect from our own emotions, created from years of being conditioned to feel nothing and move forward. And all of this numbness has been exasperated and exaggerated in the workplace.

How often have you been dealing with some kind of grief in your life — regardless of how you identify — and you’ve shoved it down and showed up to work because, well, there was shit to do.

It is time to interrupt this. We need to allow space for our full human selves to be seen and show up in the workspace. The companies we work for — the places we dedicate the majority of our waking week hours to — ARE our communities. Whether we feel connected to them or not, they are a space with so much potential for going deeper into our human experience, together.

Which leads me back to the headline: How do companies address the aftermath of George Floyd and Christian Cooper?

They address that these events happened.

They acknowledge that at this moment in time, we are each impacted differently.

They hold space for ALL aspects of the human experience to show up.

They make statements like: we see you and hear you, today, and every day.

You matter to us.

We don’t have the answers but we’re giving room to the questions.

It is OK to take the day off today, if you need it.

Work can wait.

We realize we’ve been quiet, and we are taking responsibility for our silence.

I, (insert name of leader here), am taking responsibility for (whatever feels appropriate in this moment.)

This conversation doesn’t have to fall on the marginalized, on the black community, on the DEI change agents. Those people are already doing a lot of heavy weight holding. Help share some of the load. It is as simple as creating some space, extending a hand, offering to carry some responsibility in this reality.

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If you are happy with how your company has stepped up to the plate, message me at emily@say-space.com. I would love to hear about these success stories.

If you are feeling the weight of the silence, feel free to email me as well. You do not have to be in this alone.