Berrett-Koehler Publishers’ Post

Happy Juneteenth! As we reflect on Juneteenth, it’s essential to recognize the ongoing fight against systemic racism. We need to amplify Black voices and highlight Black leaders, including Black women who have championed social justice and workers' rights. These include Rosina Corrothers Tucker, a key figure in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, who organized women in laundry and domestic trades. Sylvia Woods, a union organizer in Chicago, who united Black and white workers to improve labor conditions. Hattie Canty, a strike leader in Nevada, who fought for fair wages and better labor standards in the hospitality industry. Let's honor Juneteenth by recognizing the strength and perseverance of Black women who have fought and continue to fight for justice. #Juneteenth #BlackWomenLeaders #LaborMovement #SocialJustice #WomenOfColor #CelebrateJuneteenth

Honoring Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom and Resilience Today marks three years since Juneteenth became a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, recognizing the day on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of slavery – a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day has grown from a Texas celebration to a national symbol of freedom and resilience for all Black Americans. At Women In Bio-San Francisco Bay Area, we honor the invaluable contributions of Black Americans in the sciences, the workplace, and our communities. Our commitment to creating opportunities for traditionally disenfranchised groups extends beyond Juneteenth, as we strive for inclusivity every day. Juneteenth serves as a reminder to support your local Black-owned businesses and foster diversity and inclusion in all aspects of life. Let’s celebrate and uplift each other not only on this holiday, but every day. #Juneteenth #Juneteenth2024 #FreedomDay #EqualityForAll #DiversityAndInclusion #HonoringJuneteenth #DiversityinSTEM #WomenInBio

From the civil rights era to the digital age, Black women in DC have defied the odds, shattered stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations of leaders. Learn more about some of DC’s past and present Black communicators who have shaped our industry: https://bit.ly/3UWWvxF

This article speaks volumes. As someone who was just fired by a board after nearly nine years of dedicated service just 3 months before my planned departure, this article speaks to me. The author talks about how Black women leaders are "expected to turn a blind eye to the presence and implications of institutional racism and its impact on herself and other Black people, both within the organization and without." https://lnkd.in/edccCqA8

"Many Black women in positions of leadership earnestly believe that they cannot afford the luxury of a more integral moral ecology because they are being made to choose between their livelihoods and their ideals." It is imperative that we make professional space for Black women to share their collective abuse. I can only hope to be of support as I continue to advocate for those who work directly and indirectly with me. I live at the intersection of anti-Black maleness in a field that views my peers as vectors and villains while Black women live in a wholly different place where they are expected to bring #BlackGirlMagic to fix decades-long internal abuses without support to dismantle to status quo. And if they ever do that nearly impossible work, they will pay a dear price...often with public admonition. To address these issues takes transparency and higher levels of support. It was nothing but shocking to see first-hand the professional abuses that a Black woman in leadership faced at an org that I led. 1) Staff openly questioning her academic credentials (read: Black women don't/can't earn doctorate degrees) 2) One individual stating that they did not want to report to her but to a white leader who didn't even have her skill set (read: I prefer reporting to someone who looks like me) 3) A Black woman peer who sent numerous threatening text messages if she preformed corrective action on her due to her egregious and demeaning behavior with staff and peers (read: Not all skin folk are kin folk) 4) A white man who was being investigated for improper behavior who was immediately terminated for attempting to destroy evidence who then became verbally & physically aggressive which led to her locking herself into an office and having to call the police (read: Black women must already know their place on society's Privilege Flag Pole) 5) Being told by staff that she should not have called the police and that she must have done something wrong to make the white terminated employee so upset (read: Be prepared to die and then have people say you were complicit in your own death) Too many Black women have these and worse experiences on a habitual basis. Systemic violence is putting your head in the sand and hoping that well-meaning "Allies" who have no history of openly supporting Black women will suddenly do so when faced with their daily realities. We must do better. #iSupportBeverly #TrustBlackWomen

WE ALL can cultivate environments where black and brown talent can thrive. We have to first acknowledge how we consciously or subconsciously have been conditioned. We have a long way to go that requires significant progress by leadership. Want proof? Just look around your own senior leadership tables or boards. We can’t get complacent.

Last Friday, the much anticipated “State of Black America” report was released by the National Urban League (NUL). Friday morning, NUL President and CEO Marc Morial discussed the report and its findings during an interview with CBS Mornings co-hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil. The interview can be viewed at https://lnkd.in/e_HWRtKn The “State of Black America,” now in its 48th edition, is the highly anticipated source for thought leaders focusing on racial equality in America. The 2024 State of Black America report examines the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, marking the first significant effort by the U.S. to address the racial caste system. Sixty years later, the publication highlights that the struggle for equality persists, emphasizing the ongoing challenges and progress made in the pursuit of a more just and equitable future. The full report can be found at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gvsp4sgm

Our DEI Committee hosted our second DEI Trivia event today, this time in recognition of #BlackHistoryMonth & #WomensHistoryMonth!  Congratulations to our Nashua Office for winning this round—although lawyers will be lawyers and challenges have already been issued. Join our ongoing DEI discussion around these themes by thinking about your answers to these questions: 1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? 2. Who or what comes to mind when you think about contributions made by the Black community?

One theme I’ve witnessed since becoming Alder is that too often when folks talk about the future of an area of the city — when it comes to Black people, also being there — the imagining is often really soaked in stereotypes. the imagining becomes wrapped with a call for more police, more on-site security, vs how do we ensure this area is welcoming and authentically inclusive. this is one reason why I created the Progress Center for Black Women. because too many times I felt like just being the Black person in a space — some people found that to be offensive/a problem. and I lost count of the stories Black women shared with me about how they felt in this city. to feel this way before serving in an elected position, coupled with now witnessing how people across the city create the energy where to be Black is to be unwelcomed and deserving of being over policed — can be taxing on some days. this also why I continue to imagine spaces that we are safe in and I’m working to build on what I’ve already built. because it is the “liberalism” so often preached about here that actually doesn’t f__k with us. anyways, I encourage you to create space for yourself away from toxic liberalism. it’s so necessary to maintain your peace of mind. ✌🏾 #madisonwi #inclusion #leadership

Today, we commemorate #Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks the end of slavery for most in the United States. This day holds profound historical significance, reminding us of the struggles, resilience, and achievements of Black communities. It was on June 19, 1865, that a Union general ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. Let’s honor Juneteenth by reflecting on our nation’s history, acknowledging past injustices, and recognizing the progress we've made. This day serves as a reminder that our journey toward racial equality is far from over. We must stand together, educate ourselves, and actively work to dismantle systemic racism in all its forms. At ALFDP: The Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, we celebrate Juneteenth by honoring those who fought hard for freedom and #equality. We encourage everyone to engage in meaningful conversations, share knowledge, and support Black-owned businesses and organizations. Let’s uplift Black voices, celebrate their achievements, and empower one another to create a more just and inclusive society.