The recent events related to the killing of George Floyd have underscored a significant moral leadership gap in America. I have personally heard from many of my colleagues and friends on how deeply disturbed and upset they are by this situation. While I know this situation is specific to the US, I do believe that racism of ANY kind cannot and should not be tolerated. I also believe that regardless of our positions or titles, we should ALL step up and lead in these pivotal moments. To that end, I sent out this message to my team and colleagues yesterday to let them know that their feelings were understood. To be clear, I also do not condone any of the violence that has followed – it takes the focus away from the essence of the problems we face. While some of you might feel this is not an appropriate forum for this message, and a few might disagree with my thoughts, or even the historical context, I felt like this message is universal and I thought I would share it for your consideration.
Dear Team,
In August 1619, 20 Africans were brought to Point Comfort to work as slaves in the English colony of Virginia. Through several tumultuous times, including a bloody civil war in which close to 750,000 lives were lost, America showed the world how it could overcome and correct deep-rooted injustices. In striving for equality for all as the purest, most self-evident truth, and boldly proclaiming that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were unalienable rights endowed by our creator, these values served as a powerful foundation for economic progress, social good, and the aspiration to achieving racial parity.
Yet 400 years later despite all of the progress made, and the innumerable sacrifices made in support of these values, on Monday this week, we saw the gruesome images and video of George Floyd murdered in cold blood by police in Minneapolis. Amongst so many others that we have witnessed over the years, this was yet another quintessential American tragedy, with deep racial undertones. This wasn’t just an isolated incident but rather reflective of a systematic pattern of absurdity and cruelty – think of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, and Trayvon Martin, the list goes on.
In this particular situation, the brazenness and brutality of the senseless killing is more than just unsettling or unfair. While so many of us have been progressively desensitized to such events, and frequently tend to turn our heads the other way, or move our attention to next news cycle, I want you to reflect and think about how you might feel if you were part of this minority group, or have a family member, a relative, or a friend who might be feeling the burden, the anguish, the frustration, the sadness and the pain of this event.
So here is what I want to ask of you. Reach out to your colleagues who might now have to also deal with the fear, the questions, the feeling of hopelessness, the depression, or lost cause that comes along with the trauma of such an event. Remember, this is on top of the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is already having on having on people of color, especially the “black and brown” communities. As a brown skinned immigrant to America, I can empathize deeply with how this might feel. After 9-11, I was afraid of leaving my house for months, always looking over my shoulder wondering if someone was going harm me as public sentiment was such in that period of time, that every brown skinned foreigner was suspected of being a potential terrorist. During that time, many experienced verbal insults and condescending looks that could make one lose a sense of self-worth and belief in society.
In these times, one needs a friend, and a shoulder to lean on. Be that someone. Speak up and make your voice heard. Step out and listen and offer encouragement and support. Fortunately, there are more good people than bad people in this world. Be at your best.
Now is not the time to stand still and go about our business as usual. When it matters the most, our silence means complicity.
I can understand that some of you may be mentally exhausted with so much to deal with all at once. As such I want you to know that if you need to take the time to clear/somewhat ease your mind, please do so. Please also reference the resources through EAP shared on our last call that can be valuable at times like these (attached).
Everyone deals with situations differently so please do what makes sense for you, just keep me aware. I want to keep the lines of communication open and am here to talk anytime.
At your side, always.
Best,
Vivek
