Solidarity Hour... The One with Jennifer Randolph
Jennifer Randolph was our guest for the latest, and perhaps most significant, Solidarity Hour we’ve hosted thus far. Jen has spent her entire career in talent management, organizational development and diversity, and joined us to share her perspective on systemic racism in the workplace and in life, her personal experiences and what it means to be an ally in the fight for equality.
Where to begin? Jen didn’t hold back on anything and we’re grateful. Among the topics and observations, she talked about:
The everyday “drudgery” that black people experience that makes things more difficult than they have to be
The language and labels applied to people and to the diversity “movement”
The existence of a “black tax” in the workplace (and life)
What it means to be authentic. In short, black people often have to adopt two personas – their professional self and their “real” self that has to be shelved at work in order to make their white co-workers more comfortable.
The role of diversity in building culture and business impact
Finally, and maybe most importantly, Jen discussed what it means to be an ally and how to be a better ally. Among the advice she gave was to:
Listen – let me know you hear me and validate what I’m saying
Amplify my voice – raise awareness and give credit to my ideas, my contributions, my value
Look around! - so often there are very few people of color in an organization so if you see someone you’ve never met, introduce yourself and let them know you’re their ally
Be brave – use your voice in the moment when it matters