When people still commuted to the office regularly a few years ago, I broke down while driving and listening to "Wolves" by Kanye West. While it's undeniable that the melancholy and off-kilter drums HIT, what made me cry a river was the ongoing police violence against Black people in the U.S.
Botham Jean was murdered in his own apartment by off-duty officer Amber Guyger, who mistook his home for hers. Despite being thousands of miles away in England, the flood of Black trauma I’d seen online, combined with the music I was listening to, left me deep in my feelings.
When I arrived at the office, composed myself, and started my day, I noticed no one was discussing what happened. As one of the only Black employees, I felt like the new kid arriving at school on their first day searching for a lunch table. Could my co-workers not relate to what I felt because these things didn't happen in England? I was physically present but mentally elsewhere, forced to mirror their indifference. Each smile or laugh felt like a mockery. It’s exhausting trying to make people care when they clearly don’t.
Now, following the senseless stabbings of three young girls on July 29, 2024 in Southport, England, the country is experiencing its worst race riots in years. Fueled by disinformation spread by far-right groups like the EDL and the general public, anti-immigration sentiment, Islamophobia, and domestic terrorism have surged. In scenes reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s, many Black and Brown people are on self-imposed lockdowns to avoid violent white rioters who have clashed with police and physically and verbally assaulted innocent bystanders.
Earlier this week, I went into the office for a pre-arranged meeting. Nine days into the riots, there were no bulletins about avoiding certain areas, no safe spaces for impacted colleagues, and no mention of the ongoing domestic terrorism against Black and Brown people. The day proceeded as any other day, and it wasn't until my daughter texted me to make sure I remembered the tamarind sauce for the samosas that I realized the workday was done.
Not one colleague acknowledged the violence occurring outside. As I checked my inbox before departing, I noticed an email from senior management advising us to take relevant precautions and who to contact if we needed mental support.
As I ate breakfast the following day, a Microsoft Teams message popped up on my screen. It described how a coworker's life was threatened while getting food, and they were followed in their car. It made me reflect on the global backlash against "woke" DEI programs, like employee resource groups (ERG’s) that have been significantly cut in the last 18-24 months. For instance, in July, John Deere, the farm equipment maker became the latest company to give in to conservative backlash online by slashing its DEI initiatives and ending sponsorship of LGBTQ+ Pride events, and climate advocacy.
DEI programs and employee resource groups provide vital support to Black and Brown colleagues, especially when other colleagues may shy away from discussing unfamiliar political or social issues. While it’s important for everyone to have trusted support resources in their personal lives, ERGs can help facilitate safe spaces in the workplace.
Through our platforms, the BlindianProject and South Asians for Black Lives, we’ve had the privilege of bringing together cross-cultural groups of employees in corporate environments like Sony Music and BetterCloud, and students at institutions such as Stanford University, the School of Oriental and African Studies, and St. John’s University, helping them feel seen and heard. As global demographics (Millennials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha) shift away from a majority of middle-aged, cis-hetero white males, organizations that proactively address these changes are positioning themselves to stay ahead of the competition with more engaged and enthusiastic workforces.
What ERG effort have you experienced in the workplace that helped you feel seen?
Jonah Batambuze is a Ugandan-American filmmaker, place-maker, and community builder. His work focuses on the intersection of Black and Brown culture, delving into themes of migration, memory, identity, race, and Afro-Asian solidarities. In 2020, Batambuze founded BlindianProject, a global platform dedicated to bringing together Black and Brown cultures. It’s a collective of dreamers, healers, visionaries, and thought leaders using storytelling and placemaking.
Yes!! Thanks for putting this into words. Whenever something major like this happens, as it did after George Floyd's murder and since the start of the genocide, I remember/realise just how isolating it is living and working in almost entirely white spaces. I feel like the only person outside of my social media that is really affected and struggling to get on with daily life. It's hard to find community with other poc in real life when you've never had it.
The 'critics' of DEI are now demonstrating why they exist. It is sad to see what is happening, however, this is the time for collecting evidence. At one point in time, there will be enough to prove the business and social need for diversity.