A National Crisis Requires Us to Step Up

With the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement, our country faces a crisis that requires each of us to look within ourselves and try to make a difference. Meaningful conversations about race are difficult and rare, a kind of third rail we often don’t want to touch. But these are not times to be quiet. We all need to share our thoughts, listen to others, and embrace change.

It is important to recognize the depth of personal feelings that so many African Americans have had watching what happened to Mr. Floyd. Too many have had harsh experiences of their own at the hands of police; a friend told me a story that was very chilling. How many white people, like myself, have literally feared for our lives during encounters with law enforcement?

If we want to build a better country, all of us, especially leaders, need to become better educated and look deeper within ourselves for unconscious bias. We need to get out of our comfort zones and courageously encourage meaningful conversations with people different from ourselves. If we act to end this pattern of injustice, we can create a better future.

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact! 

This Insight is excerpted from an upcoming Growing Leadership column in the NH Business Review. We will share the full version when it is published.