“The work of anti-racism is the work of becoming a better human to other humans.” – Austin Channing Brown

What makes power dangerous is how it’s used.  Daring and transformative leaders share power with, empower people to, and inspire people to develop power within.  We all get things wrong when striving to be more just, more equitable, and more inclusive, and anti-racist.  Have you built the capacity to care more about others than you care about your own ego?  Will you chose to protect someone else over protecting your own ego?  Part of what white supremacy steals is the ability to see, to feel, to hear, to hold in high esteem other people.

Leaders who work from a position of Power Over:	Leaders who work from a position of Power With/To/Within:
Believe that power is finite and use fear to protect and hoard power.	Believe that power becomes infinite and expands when shared with others.
Leverage fear to divide, destabilize, and devalue decency – decency actually framed as a sign of weakness and “for suckers.”	Leverage connection and empathy to unite and stabilize. Value decency as a function of self-respect and respect for others.
Give people experiencing fear and uncertainty a sense of false certitude and safety based on ideology and nostalgia over facts. Being right is more important than getting it right.	Offer people experiencing fear and uncertainty transparency and create learning cultures based on critical thinking and evidence-based data from multiple perspectives. Getting it right is more important than being right.
Give people someone to blame for their discomfort – preferably someone who looks/acts/sounds different than they do.	Normalize discomfort and move away from shame and blame and toward accountability and meaningful change.
Maintain power over by demonstrating an ever-increasing capacity for cruelty, including shaming and bullying – especially toward vulnerable populations.	Frame leadership as a responsibility to be in service of others rather than served by others.
Frame constructs like personal rights and freedom to polarize and being in service of others is seen as weak.	Frame rights and freedoms as privileges that are connected to responsibility to the larger community or organizational culture.
Incite hatred and violence with persistent dehumanizing language and policies.	Center connection and humanity with empathy-driven agendas, policies and values.

Consider…

• How often are you protecting your own ego?
• How will you be a leader who works from a position of power with, power to, and power within?
• In relationships – what are you giving?
• How are you pursuing racial justice in your own life?
• Are you learning how to let go of your own supremacy?

Podcast | Brené with Austin Channing Brown on I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Book | I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown

Resource | Brené Brown Power and Leadership

 

Vice President Kamala Harris represents a number of important firsts for our country. She is the first woman, the first Black individual, and the first individual of South Asian descent elected to national office in the United States. Additionally, she is the first VP to graduate from a Historically Black University, specifically Howard University in Washington D.C. According to Harris, “When you’re at an HBCU, and especially one with the size and with the history of Howard University… it just becomes about you understanding that there is a whole world of people who are like you.”

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, are institutions of higher education that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when segregation laws prevented Black students from attending most schools. The principal mission of HBCUs was and still is the education of Black Americans; however, today, around a fourth of HBCUs’ student populations are non-Black students. According to the United Negro College Fund, “HBCUs outperform non-HBCU institutions in retaining and graduating first-generation, low-income African American students. Diversity within college graduates is vital because more voices from all corners of the United States makes us a better formed, positive, successful society.”

There are currently 101 HBCUs in the United States, including two in Missouri: Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis and Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

The inauguration of President Joe Biden was an eventful day, but the inaugural poet really captured the hearts of many. Amanda Gorman performed “The Hill We Climb” at yesterday’s ceremony, and in doing so became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. Gorman is a Los Angeles native, and her heartfelt moving poems have allowed her to perform for the Obamas, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Malala and more.  She also earned the title of the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. This amazing poet made me want to investigate the history of this ‘inaugural poet’ role. This role is still remarkably new, with only four presidents having poets read at their ceremonies. It started with John F. Kennedy in 1961 and Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden following suit. All four of these presidents were/are known for holding reading and literature in high regard. After Amanda’s amazing performance, her words of hope and resilience, while acknowledging the hard work ahead, resonated through the entire country.

2021 – #WeMustDoBetter as people, a community, a nation, and a world.

Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

According to Entrepreneur.com, there are twelve actions to take to be a better person and leader:

1. See yourself for who you are – know your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Forgive and let go of anger.
3. Accept responsibility – you are the only one responsible for your actions.
4. Admit when you are wrong and apologize.
5. Be a good listener – actually hear what the other person is saying.
6. Be polite – let kindness be your compass.
7. Have respect for others (and yourself).
8. Set goals for yourself.
9. Live with integrity – your actions are in tune with your beliefs.
10. Recognize opportunities to grow and change – don’t allow fear to hold you back.
11. Be part of a community.
12. Embrace the journey – there will be good times and tough times, but combined those times will get you where you need to be.

“And so, it is time to revise everything. We must revise the way we speak, the way we work, the way we think and the way we act. We must do better. And we must do it now. We just can’t wait any longer, “ Samora Pinderhughes, The Root.

An important Supreme Court ruling related to Black Lives Matter protests came through just a month ago. CNN Supreme Court Reporter Ariana de Vogue wrote, the Supreme Court wiped away a lower court option that critics argued would chill the speech rights or demonstrators and dismantle civil rights era precedent that safeguard the First Amendments’ right to protest. The lower court allowed a Louisiana police officer to move forward with lawsuit to hold the organizer of a Black Lives Matter protest, DeRay Mckesson, accountable for injuries the officer sustained in 2016 when he was hit by a heavy object. Mckesson himself did not hurl the object; the person who did is still unidentified. The case explores the reach of the First Amendment when it comes to civil rights protects and it comes as the country is reeling from renewed demonstrations this summer. The Supreme Court has held that lawful protestors cannot be held liable when someone within their ranks commits unlawful activity. “The Supreme Court has long recognized that peaceful protesters cannot be held liable for the unintended, unlawful actions of others,” said American Civil Liberties Union National Legal Director David Cole, who is representing Mckesson. “If the law had allowed anyone to sue leaders of social justice movements over the violent actions of others, there would have been no Civil Rights Movement. The lower court’s ruling is a threat to the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans.”

“The First Amendment does not condone physical violence,” a group of First Amendment lawyers represented by Acting Solicitor General Walter Dellinger told the court in support of Mckesson. Dellinger argued that while the Constitution does not excuse the attacker’s “criminal, tortious and morally indefensible conduct,” it does protect the organizer who “neither committed nor incited” the illegal activity. “What is at stake here is not the officer’s right to seek redress for his injuries, but the First Amendment rights of organizers to use protest to express political and social views,” Dellinger wrote. DeRay Mckesson tweeted, “I’ve been in this legal battle since Nov 2016 and the Supreme Court vacated the 5th Circuit decision against me that said that individual organizers can be civilly liable for injuries/damages. This is win for every organizer & activist. Let’s keep fighting.”

Consider the impact of protests in our history.  Consider the influence of the First Amendment.  Know and consider your rights when organizing a protest, attending a protest, and/or documenting a protest. Know and consider the rights of others as they organize a protest, attend a protest, and/or document a protest. Consider the power of your voice when protesting today.

Resources:

• National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement | Free Speech Guides by Jonathan Friedman
• ACLU Know Your Rights | Protesters’ Rights