I’ve been going back and forth for a couple of weeks about whether or not to make a statement about the uprising for racial justice. As I saw statements roll out from brand after brand with varying degrees of sincerity, it felt trite to think about this historic moment from a public relations perspective. I didn’t want to make a statement just for the purpose of looking woke.
So I’ve been intentionally quiet, focusing my energy on reading and sharing Black voices, mostly within my personal network. But I also know that silence is a form of violence, so for those of you who only know me through my business, I want to unequivocally say that Black Lives Matter.
I support the protestors and their demands for criminal justice reform. This moment has taught me the importance of not just being “not racist,” but actively antiracist.
I’m still in the process of digesting and envisioning what antiracism looks like in the context of my work. As someone who works at the intersection of the events industry and the environmental movement, both of which suffer from a lack of inclusivity, I know there is work to be done.
I also know that systems that oppress any group of people are not sustainable. What “sustainability” is trying to sustain is life, and too often our systems assign lower value to the lives of certain groups. For just one example, Black communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution and therefore chronic conditions like asthma, which we’ve seen have devastating effects as Black Americans die at disproportionately high rates from COVID-19. Taking this reality into account, environmental work can also be antiracist work, but only if we allow ourselves to be led by those who are most affected.
I’m starting this journey by seeking out and listening to more Black voices. Here are some of the resources I’ve found helpful so far:
- Indy10 Black Lives Matter Facebook page
- Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Indianapolis Facebook page
- Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
- When They See Us on Netflix
- Diversity in Events: What It Means, Where We’re Failing, and What Comes Next on BizBash
What antiracist resources have you been learning from lately? What other Black voices in the events industry or sustainability field should I be listening to? Share them in the comments so we can learn together!