The feedforward from last week’s Racial Justice at Work Summit continues to flow in, and we couldn’t be more grateful! The inaugural two-day event celebrated the launch of Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change (Berrett-Koehler, 2023) by Mary-Frances Winters and The Winters Group team, and featured sessions focused on bringing the book’s pages to life with affirming messages, possibility models, and concrete action steps for change.
“So glad I signed up to participate … I’m realizing how much code switching was engrained in my daily interactions at work,” wrote one attendee. “Never again.” Another participant shared, “The sessions were informative, and I actually felt refreshed and energized afterward.” Another offered: “The justice-centered and race-conscious conversation and content is giving me so much life!” Added one more: “The community you all created virtually was unmatched.”
Contributing to that strong sense of community throughout the summit was the lively chat and Q&A. Participants kept The Winters Group team on our toes, responding to requests for resources in real time, including callouts for several books. In case you missed it, the following is a roundup of some of the titles that made the discussion. (For a list of Black-owned bookstores to support, click here!)
- Black and White Styles in Conflict by Thomas Kochman (University of Chicago Press, 1983): This insightful classic shines a light on how different communication styles — and valuing one over others — leads to conflicts and misunderstandings that perpetuate inequities.
- Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Frances Winters (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2020): Taking a deep dive into the intergenerational impact of the crushing physical and emotional toll of racism, best-selling author Winters offers Black readers strategies for protecting themselves against Black fatigue and gives allies advice for actively dismantling the racist systems that cause it.
- Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians by Jane Hyun (Harper Business, 2006): Career coach Hyun offers solutions to the unique challenges faced by Asian Americans in the workplace, where traditional Asian cultural values can often be at odds with Western corporate culture.
- From Triggered to Tranquil: How Self-Compassion and Mindful Presence Can Transform Relationship Conflicts and Heal Childhood Wounds by Susan Campbell (New World Library, 2021): Campbell’s no-blame approach empowers readers to defuse interpersonal conflicts by exploring the roots of their triggers and trauma responses as a means for growth and self-compassion.
- Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy, and Belonging Across Differences by Mary-Frances Winters (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2020): The companion guide to The Winters Group’s Bold, Inclusive Conversations® certification program, this book offers readers specific strategies for addressing power dynamics, fear, and fragility in order to pave the way for real dialogue across differences.
- Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think by Tasha Eurich (Currency, 2018): Organizational psychologist Eurich shares tips and advice for developing the type of self-awareness that leads to making better life choices and building relationships that last.
- Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Edition by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick (The Guilford Press, 2012): This powerful approach to facilitating change is broken down into four processes made accessible with examples throughout the book: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning.
- Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing by Dr. Joy DeGruy (Joy DeGruy Publications Inc., 2017): A veteran professional in the mental health field, Dr. DeGruy encourages African Americans to view how they move through the world using the lens of history to better understand how centuries of oppression have affected people of African descent in America.
- The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee (One World, 2022): Eschewing the zero-sum paradigm that progress for some must come at others’ expense, McGhee lifts up the Solidarity Dividend: what everyone stands to gain when we work together to address the racism and greed that hurts us all.
- We Can’t Talk about That at Work!: How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics by Mary-Frances Winters (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2017): Using preparation, intent, and her trademark storytelling, Winters explains how to approach sensitive topics in the workplace in a way that invites people to come together.
