Black lives matter

When I was a young professional, I worked at a national fundraising consulting firm where I was taught to keep my thoughts and feelings about social or political matters to myself.  I was taught not to signal whether I was a Republican or a Democrat or what my positions on social issues like abortion, LGBTQ rights or racism were. I had to keep quiet, they said, because it's a consultant's job to focus on, advise on, and support the client's values and not my own. 

This indoctrination has meant that there have been times working with clients when I've encountered racism and I swallowed my reaction or didn't speak up.  To be honest, one part of me hated feeling silenced, but another part of me was relieved because its safer and easier to keep quiet than it is to challenge power.  

In this way, I have been complicit in perpetuating systemic racism. 

I am deeply, deeply sorry.

I will do better.  From now on I will no longer be quiet when I encounter any sign of racism during client engagements. Instead, I will challenge it. I hope to challenge racism in such a way that it invites conversation, education, and growth, but it's possible that a client will be angered, defensive or offended and I could lose business.  Losing business is what it might take to build a better world and over the past few days, I've made my peace with it.

Regardless of the outcome for me, personally, I will continue to educate myself on racial justice issues and be a better ally. I hope you'll join me.

Best, 
Dani

PS - In case you're wondering, I'm a liberal Democrat.  I'm a feminist and am pro-choice. I'm an LGBTQ ally and believe that Black Lives Matter.