The Anti-Racist Organization

"The first question I hear from organizations seeking to incorporate racial equity practice is, 'What do we do?' Dr Shereen Daniels answers that question with clarity, depth, and practical direction. This book should be on every organizational leader's bookshelf." —Dr. Robin DiAngelo, New York Times best-selling author of White Fragility "An amazing and inspiring book." —HR Director Tackle systemic racism in the workplace with practical strategies In The Anti-Racist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace, HR strategist Dr Shereen Daniels delivers an incisive and honest discussion of how business leaders can change workplace practices to create a more anti-racist and equitable environment. The author draws on her personal and client-facing experience, historical fact, legal proceedings, HR insights, and quantitative analysis to equip readers with the knowledge and tools they need to transform their companies. Dr Daniels also looks at: The role of executive leaders and how to push past discomfort to credibly and authentically lead change Strategies for recognising the problem of systemic racism and implementing impactful solutions Why it’s important to empower colleagues to be pioneers of change and how to do that Explanations of why diversity and inclusion initiatives haven’t yet solved the problem Ways language can either be a weapon to perpetuate systemic racism or a tool to dismantle An indispensable exploration of how systemic racism is ingrained into business structures, policies, and decision-making, The Anti-Racist Organization belongs in the libraries of leaders prepared to examine how their organizations produce unequal outcomes, and to take responsibility for what they find.

Preface: How to Read This Book ix 1 Entering the Global Race for Racial Equality 1 Developing Awareness 7 The Start of Uncomfortable Questions 10 A Day That Changed Everything 16 How Tokenism Became the Answer 18 2 Moving Beyond Conversations 25 We Live in a Racialised Society 27 The Age of Enlightenment 30 Wasn’t Diversity and Inclusion Supposed to Solve This? 37 The Origins of Diversity and Inclusion 40 Racism and Discrimination Are Illegal in the Eyes of the Law 44 Your Anti-Racist Leadership Starts Now 53 3 Defining Meaning 67 Using Language as a Tool to Dismantle Racism 69 A New Terminology 75 Black 98 Colourism 106 4 Starting from Where You Stand 113 The Easy Solutions Are Rarely the Right Ones 115 The Four Levels of the Racial Equity Maturity Model 123 Our Culture Isn’t Racist Is It? 140 5 The Four-Factor RACE Model 147 Be Specific 150 Recognise the Problem 153 Analyse the Impact 168 Commit to Action 193 Empower for Change 221 Final Thoughts on the Four-Factor RACE Model 231 6 A Sustainable Future Needs Equity at the Heart 233 Getting It Right 238 Focus on Your Lake 239 The Final 10 241 7 Where Do We Go from Here? 245 Index 253