Author: Leigh Morrison

The Buzz: Wisdom from Critical Race Theory Summer School

This week, I have had the immense privilege to take part in the African American Policy Forum’s Critical Race Theory Summer School program. The forum brings together activists, legal scholars and academics from many related fields in this critical moment to ask: How can we as practitioners effectively respond to polarization and backlash against critical race theory and related work? Here are some of the key insights offered so far by the brilliant speakers assembled for imperatives in moving forward in this work…

Read More

By Whose Standards: Histories of a Famous Kiss, Told in Two Photos

History is, as the adage goes, written by the winners. While we often think of this in the context of two societies clashing in a war and the victors chronicling the tales of their conquests proudly, just as important – if not more so – is thinking about who within our own cultures and systems of oppression has enjoyed the power that enables their narratives to rise to the surface at the expense of others. A powerful and productive question to get in the habit of asking in response is: What do we risk missing as a result? 

Read More

The Buzz: Corporate Pride Month Illustrates a Dangerous Double Standard

June is, of course, Pride Month. If the parades and performances that we missed last year popping back up weren’t enough of a reminder, check your coffee cups, promotional emails and Oreos. How many organizations visibly and vocally supporting Pride Month in their communications would take this same approach to affirming their commitment to racial justice. How many made commitments in the wake of George Floyd’s murder but have since been silent, stepped back or directly contradicted those commitments?

Read More

Operationalizing Justice: “This is Not My Work”

As practitioners, we are working through how best to handle these challenges in real time, and we do not have all the answers. However, we must commit ourselves to thinking through them and seeking ways to minimize harm. This is precisely the “messiness” that has scared some organizations off from their initial commitments… and working through it is critical to progress. Here are a few practical considerations for minimizing harm and fatigue for your BIPOC employees as your organization continues on its antiracism journey:

Read More

Operationalizing Justice: How to Make Reparations a Reality Now

Supporting reparations requires circumventing these “distancing” barriers by unlearning capitalist, individualist mindsets into which most of us in the U.S. have been deeply socialized. It is incumbent upon us to take action as individuals and organizations to prove that reparations are possible and to address harm in our communities where our representatives fail to do so. People continue to be harmed every day as a result of collective inaction on reparations, and we have the power to change this. Reparations is as real as you make it. 

Read More

Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Racial Justice at Work book cover

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging Across Differences

We Can’t Talk About That At Work! (Second Edition)

Cover of the book We Can't Talk about That at Work (Second Edition) by Mary-Frances Winters and Mareisha N Reese

Watch Our LinkedIn Learning Courses