**Before getting into this week’s post, we want to explain our title choice for this series. We recognize that it is not grammatically correct, and we wanted to share why we made the intentional choice to use it. “There’s levels to this” comes from rapper Meek Mill’s song “Levels,” and has generally become a popular phrase in black, urban culture to denote the complexity of a situation or idea. In talking about systems, we want to honor the complexity of the topic, and we also wanted to do it in a way that celebrates a cultural understanding of that complexity, one that often stems from marginalized cultures for whom inequity is more prevalent, obvious, and consequential.
Over the past few weeks, we have taken a deep dive into three levels of systems: the interpersonal, the group, and the institutional. Each level is interconnected to the others and reflecting on who we are within each level brings up new and different challenges.
Whether it’s the discomfort of confronting one’s biases, one’s privilege, or the truth about institutional inequity, there’s always risk involved in acknowledging, naming, and exploring the levels of systems and systemic inequities—the risk that once you see it, you will be compelled into action that might cause even more discomfort, that might upset the status quo or a personal peace.
So, as we wrap up this series, let’s talk about action – what it looks like and how we take action, even when it’s risky. We’ve defined levels of systems, and we’ve prompted you all to reflect on who you are in the context of each level.
What are my biases? Now that I see them, what would it mean to act with more authenticity and awareness? When am I a part of the dominant group? Now that I know that I am, what does it mean to act positively from privilege and power? How do I perpetuate an imbalance of power in the institutions I am a part of? Now that I’m aware of it, how can I advocate for and be a part of the breaking down of inequitable power structures and the building up of new ones?
Overwhelmed yet? Feeling like a tiny drop in an ocean of intertwined and nuanced problems and solutions? Feeling paralyzed?
Just take one step. And then just ask a friend, colleague, or family member to take the next step with you. And then continue inviting people on your journey with you as you take more steps. Share resources like this blog (see more resources on our website); start conversations around these resources (for best practices, check out Mary-Frances Winters’ book, We Can’t Talk About That at Work!); look into your company’s policies and practices and check for gaps—or more accurately, people who may fall through the cracks; ask about those gaps; learn about the particular struggles of those who are falling through them… The list goes on.
The fact that “there’s levels to this” means there’s levels of inequity, but it also means that there’s levels of awareness and action and levels of opportunity for equity. Start at Level 1 and just keep walking. Bring people with you. Continually remind yourself that the journey is imperfect and that we are all imperfect. Continually remind yourself that we are also resilient. Taking a risk sometimes means we fail. But we can’t possibly fail at being ourselves. As we confront these levels of systems and find ways to advocate for greater equity, we just need a critical mass of people who are willing to be themselves and live into their authentic truths. Can you risk it?
