The Protests Are Not Enough
An edited version of this feature was originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business by Chad Livengood.
The protests are not enough.
That's Chanel Hampton's message for those who have taken to the streets in recent weeks to express their anger over the deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police officers.
Hampton's Detroit-based consulting firm, Strategic Community Partners, specializes in advising, designing, and managing initiatives that advance equity within marginalized communities. Simply put, SCP is in the business of helping shift the power dynamic for Black people.
And to do so, Hampton said, the George Floyd protests need to go beyond the streets in a strategic and sustained multi-year movement in order to compel change within corporations, government, and other institutions.
"This isn't just about change in the lives of Black people in our region. It's really about systemic change across all people that will help create a more equitable society for Black people, who time and time again have been left out, silenced, objectified and unfortunately murdered in many cases.
"There is, without a doubt, a place for protests in bringing about systemic change. Simultaneously, if you look at the most powerful civil rights movements across time, there was long-term training, discipline, and a multi-pronged approach. Protests have a place in that strategic approach. And every human out protesting--regardless of their race--also can take additional action, and must if we want to see large-scale, systemic, and long-term change."
" Every human is a consumer, most are employees and we're all social beings. At a consumer level, we need to start holding brands accountable. For every organization that is putting out a statement, I'm looking at their executive leadership. If they have no Black representation, they have 100 percent white leadership, their commitment to Black Lives Matter only runs so deep right now. So there's work to be done there. As a consumer, your dollars show your values. Who and what do you value? Are your dollars going to Black-owned and Black-led companies and organizations?
Most folks who are protesting are also employees in organizations, and so we must push organizations to examine their true commitment to equity and specifically to Black lives. I think a lot of people stop at diversity. Diversity is not equity. Diversity is sheer representation. So do you have Black staff? Do you have Black leadership? Equity is ensuring that when you have Black staff and Black leadership that their experience is the same high-quality experience that any other staff member would engage in your company. Convene a committee in your organization, survey, and audit, be honest about the experience of Black folks in the same way you pick apart investments and products. Ensure that the committee leads to tangible, sustainable, non-tokenizing, equitable action.
We all have a circle--family, friends, etc. To be clear, this is not the work of Black people. Non-Black people need to have these conversations. When you hear that friend or family member makes a comment that you would be embarrassed to hear if a Black person were standing there, that is a moment you must speak up. Have those conversations.