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Ships that Sail: Our Collective Journey Towards Equity

Opportunity Made
16 min readJun 20, 2020

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Ship sailing on the ocean
Photo by todd kent on Unsplash

“I believe race is too heavy a burden to carry into the 21st Century. It’s time to lay it down. We all came here in different ships, but now we are all in the same boat.” — John Lewis (& Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Imagine a ship that never sails, a ship that remains in the harbor, rocks against the dock, becomes coated in sea creatures and weathers away with the passing of time.

Now, imagine a very long and very deep ship, a ship that is made to hold thousands of bodies, bodies that no longer belong to the souls inside. Imagine, what if those ships had never sailed, had never ventured across big oceans bringing kings and queens to a land where they would become less than that.

Imagine.

Today, we are all in the same ship and it is up to us to decide if this ship is going to sail, for how long, and where it will go. This ship has a name, as most ships do, and its’ name is Equity.

Equality: Treating all people with the same decency and providing them with the same opportunities

Equity: Proportional representation in those same opportunities

I have done a lot of listening and watching over the past few months and this is what I have come to know.

  • We do not need to wait for everyone to get on this ship in order for it to sail, but we do need the right crew.
  • We need a crew who is going to do that work to keep this ship sailing, to steer it in the right direction.
  • That work is inside the ship and on deck.
  • We have to work on ourselves and we have to hold others accountable in a respectful, loving, and safe way and when we go into port, we have to model what it looks like to be a united crew.
  • We have to keep this ship moving for a long time, which means we need to stock up on resources and fuel and we need to keep it stocked.
  • That requires dedication, awareness, diligence, hope.
  • It also takes education, money, and freedom. What good is a crew locked up in the hull of the boat? What good is a crew that knows nothing about sailing? What good is a crew that cannot repair and protect the ship because they are out of funds?
  • We need to know that when that tide rises, it lifts ALL boats, this is not a zero sum game. Everyone is allowed to sail their ship and enjoy the seas. The ocean is big enough, wide enough, and has enough room for everyone to leave the harbor and see how far their ship can go.
Painted rock that says “Don’t loose hope”
Painted neighborhood rocks, inspiring others during these times

As I mentioned, I’ve been watching and here is what I have seen. (Note: I have drawn conclusions, but please do your own independent thinking and come up with your own).

  • An older suburban white woman blocked traffic in broad daylight on a four lane road as she crossed from a neighborhood to a shopping center. A police car happened to be driving on that same road and turned on its’ lights to stop traffic so she could finish crossing safely. Conclusion: That was incredibly kind of the officer to make sure she got across safely and to not ticket her for J-walking. The officer’s behavior should not be demeaned, but we should all get more clear as to whether or not J-walking is okay and if it is, not shoot or arrest people of color who exhibit the same behavior. Remember the name of our ship? That would be Equity.
  • Voters must pick a party when voting regardless of wanting to affiliate with that party or not. Conclusion: That is not inclusive of people who do not want to vote according to a party, but rather something else, perhaps the actual person who would be representing them.
  • A white male police officer demonstrated above and beyond excellence in a situation where they were not obligated too. Conclusion: A few bad apples doesn’t mean you throw out the bunch. It means you figure out why those apples went bad and do something different next time. More personal counseling, perhaps. More trainings on diffusing energy, on DEI, on stress management, etc. More leadership from the top down, between colleagues, and bottom up. More recognition for, and news about, those doing a great job to keep the public narrative in balance.
  • A black man at a park in a mostly white neighborhood, unraveled six tied up swings in the middle of the day, under the hot sun while two other white men played with their kids. Conclusion: That was incredibly kind of the man to fix what someone else did. How wonderful it would have been to see the two other men stop and think “Gee it’s hot outside and unraveling a bunch of swings is hard work. It’s very nice of this man to help out. Maybe I could respectfully tell my kids to hold on a second while I demonstrate what it means to be a good person and help this other man out.” — It didn’t happen.
2/6 Swings wrapped around the pole

“It’s sad that someone did that. They need to respect things. If you break it, you fix it……I wish I could help, but I’m too little. I wish I could find the person who did it and tell them they need to fix it”

— A white seven year old who wanted to play on the swings

Things I Have Heard

Many people have been sharing stories of inequity with me. Here are a few:

  • A non-native English speaking woman in tech rose in her position within a company over the course of 17 years. She did great work and got promoted to multiple senior level positions. Every time she was up for a promotion, she was told the company was experiencing a “pay freeze”. 17 years worth of promotions and dedicated time to the company and she never got a raise. Conclusion: (sarcastically) I bet it had nothing to do with the fact she was an immigrant or a woman. The company was just experiencing 17 years of hard times…
  • A black man on his university campus left a campus building late at night after taking a final exam. He went to unlock his bike to ride home, when campus police stopped him, under the assumption he was stealing the bike. Conclusion: To my knowledge, this doesn’t happen to white people.
  • (Note: This story is from a few years back) A black girl, around age six, with her mom walked past an outdoor concert with white and black performers. My friend and I were going to the concert. The young girl saw us, looked at the concert, and then asked “Mom, am I allowed there?” My heart just broke. I couldn’t believe that I would ever hear such a comment from someone too young to have even learned about civil rights in school, to say “Am I allowed”, as if this was a white concert, no blacks allowed. Conclusion: Racism still exists and our children know it, feel it, live it.
  • Companies are considering adjusting pay depending on where you choose to live after this remote season. Conclusion: Doesn’t equal pay = equal work? Why are we limiting wealth and professional success based on where you choose to live? That furthers inequity for the worker and the community by limiting pay and keeping wealthy people in already wealthy areas, as opposed to letting them invest their wealth in other communities and possibly their home towns.

A Ship Named Equity

It has become clear that it is time for this ship to sail.

It is time for people to be treated equally and for that to happen, no one “group” needs to be treated less than. So if you are scared something will be taken away from you and given to others, know that that’s not equity. Speak up if that happens.

If you are taking things from others, to try to elevate yourself, that is not equity. Stop it and start talking things out. Do the work on yourself. Why do you feel the need to take and destroy in order to have? Who taught you that? And what do they need to heal?

Small golden scale that is level
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

Think back to science class and using a scale to measure materials. If the scale is uneven, you might have taken some from one side and put it on the other.

THAT is not what we are talking about.

If the scale is uneven, you reach your hand into the bag and keep putting more on, until it levels out.

Equity means focusing your attention on the side that does not have enough until it does and is now level with the other side. That is why it is important to focus your attention on the “other side”, on this Black Lives Matter movement -to give the other side some extra attention until the scales are level. Then we can all move forward together, united as a peaceful procession of sailing ships.

But we have to keep checking the scale.

There needs to be time for all “groups” — for us to sail these ships for all ethnicities, for the original people of this land — the Native Americans, and for all people who have chosen or were forced to choose this country as their home. And I place “groups” in quotes because we are all different and belong to different groups, but ultimately we are all human beings who all deserve to sail our ships.

“Let us not pay attention to difference in a way that will make it more difficult for that person who is different, but in a way that honors and celebrates their differences”

At Sea

Are you part of the crew? Or will you need a life preserver?

If any of this talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, bias, rights, the black experience in America, black history, incarceration, or otherwise is unfamiliar or uncomfortable to you, then it’s time to start investing in your education.

If you know these words, let’s take it to the next level so you can be any ally (no matter your color) for others (no matter theirs).

Seriously invest in educating yourself, working on your inner being, healing and demonstrating leadership and advocacy for others (that is not a white journey, but an everybody journey), so let’s start here.

Man standing at the bow of his blue boat
Photo by Giachen's World on Unsplash

Your Maritime Guide to Equity:

Becoming a sailor on our human journey towards equity requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Below you’ll find things to read, watch, listen to, and do. Pick a starting point, make small wins, and do not expect yourself to do it all at once, only to do it at some point.

Note: I am not exempt. It is my aim to walk this talk. I either have done or will do every one of these things listed here for I’m part of the crew.

Read

Did You Know: Prison sizes are based upon 3rd grade reading scores?

Read these. Read these with your kids. Teach someone else to read. Read with someone else’s kid.

I tutor kids every weekend. I read with kids in my family. I monitor their reading progress and hold them accountable for their growth.

Ir’s your job too.

Note: I have conveniently linked these to Amazon. However, there may be local vendors, black vendors you could help out. Think before you buy. This is a great opportunity to start doing the work now since your money votes and reflects your values.

Healing To Become a Better Person:

Why is this section first? Because we need all people, including black people, to become better people. The work starts within and exudes out.

Financial Education:

Money speaks, especially in court and for many black and brown people they are filling cells simply because they couldn’t pay. Having a financial education is not something you get in school and yet is one of the most important life skills you can have and it’s how you raise yourself and your family out of poverty and abuse.

Leadership:

We need people of all colors and all walks of life to be leaders. In fact, we need everyone.

Kid’s Books:

If you have a child or know of a child, buy a book.

Read it.

This matters.

African American Stories:

Take charge of your cultural education and explore some amazing literature and eye-opening stories! Even if you are black, having been a teacher, I know we do not teach black history in schools. So if you went to an American school, you too need to educate yourself on your history, our history.

Incarceration & The School To Prison Pipeline:

Black males represent 37% of the prison population and 12% of the US population. 1 in 4 black males goes to jail. Learn why.

Educators:

You may not think you are a teacher, but if you lead people, if you parent people, if you manage people, if you work with people, you are a teacher.

Learn how to be a good one.

For if you are a HUMAN, someone is watching you and you are teaching them something, modeling some form of positive/negative behavior.

DEI & Restorative Justice:

Part of the movement is a need to become aware of what others are experiencing and learn how you can help them heal and change the system.

Let’s wake up.

Watch

Listen

Learn

  • Toolkits
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging for All

Speak Up

If you see something, say something.

But also make sure you understand the whole context. It could be that if you knew the whole story, you are in the wrong and are not assuming positive intent.

Seek to understand. Once you do, then speak up if you still don’t agree.

But be careful of your words. I am hearing things like “Reject racism”. “Reject” has strong negative connotations. You are holding onto the same energy as those who do not respect you and are racist.

Elevate.

Say “We accept inclusivity” vs “We reject racism”

Elevate your thinking. Elevate your speech. Elevate your expectations and model better behavior than those you don’t like.

Elevate, communicate, and educate vs be irate, retaliate, and annihilate.

Form for Getting Fingerprints in Hawaii

Why are there more hair color and eye color options than skin/race options?

Do Something

Be An Ally:

Ask open questions.

Engage in conversations to better understand others and their life experiences.

Ask how someone really is. Notice body language and their behavior.

Endorse your colleagues. Recommend them and shout out their great work!

Build trust. If one race does not trust another, we have work to do. Trust comes with consistency over time. You have to be an ally for the long haul.

So when and if companies stop promoting black people and black businesses, when and if black newscasters go back behind the scenes to small time reporting because there are no longer “black issues” to talk about, when and if black voices stop being heard and black causes stop being supported, you need to do something. Speak up and be an ally.

I heard from the leader of a black nonprofit who said, it’s nice to get these big donations from corporations, but we don’t know if we will ever get them again. We means more to us is small, consistent donations over time.

Small, consistent acts, over time, is what leads to big impact.

The Value of Belonging at Work

White Privilege

Guide to Allyship

Racial Justice Toolkit

Better Allies

Become a Teacher:

Are you looking for a new career? Become a teacher.

It is one of the best ways to help change the system and understand it from the inside out on a very personal and community-based level.

Our black and brown students need teachers who look like them and for white students, teachers who look different than them and can present a different perspective.

Apply For Teach For America

Leadership for Educational Equity

Vote:

You cannot have a voice if you do not give it to yourself.

Research candidates and then vote.

The Crown Act

Call:

Call your representatives or write them a letter.

Many people think “How could I make a difference, they don’t care about my call”. Not true. Because everyone thinks that and doesn’t call….no one calls! So when someone does, it makes a big difference. If 5 people call on policy A, and 14 people call on policy B which is the opposite of policy A, the representative will be further swayed towards policy B as their job is to represent the majority.

The Borgen Project

Donate:

The Opportunity Gap feeds the disparity between people of wealth and people of poverty, people with an education and people without one. By being conscious and generous about where you give your wealth, you can make a big difference in the narrative of our future.

Pronouns:

  • Add your pronouns to your social media profiles.

Hair:

  • Change your social media pictures to show your natural hair, if it doesn’t already, in support of all natural hair being professional and socially acceptable.

Tutor:

  • Pay attention to the education of children around you. Is someone falling behind? Pay attention and offer to tutor a child. It’s as easy as reading a book with them or giving them simple math problems to complete. You can also go more in-depth, but this would be a great start.
  • Diverse Books for Kids

Mentor:

Utilize your professional skills and network to support students as they finish school and begin their careers.

Foster to Adopt or Adopt:

Give a child a good home and a second chance. Make a difference in their trajectory and foster their potential.

Heal Trauma & Stop the Cycle of Intergenerational Abuse:

  • See a Counselor/Psychologist— it DOES NOT mean you are crazy, it means you are proactive and becoming self aware
  • Journal
  • Talk
  • Scream and beat a pillow
  • Walk
  • Write an angry letter to vent your feelings, throw it away or …don’t
  • Take an ACE Test
  • Understand Your Bias
  • Watch your self talk — look yourself in the mirror and say good things — “I am beautiful”, ‘I am good enough”, “I am smart”, etc

Understand the Value of Humans Having Different Cultures:

and what joy, creativity, and opportunity can come from that.

My Commitment as a Member of This Crew:

  • To communicate clearly.

Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind — Dare to Lead

  • Be considerate and support others
  • Check in and really ask how others are doing consistently (Right now society is telling us to check in with the black people around us. This is an okay first step, but why not just genuinely care about others all the time and not let them get away with “I’m fine” “Nothing’s wrong”. Be invested. Be interested. You know, some black people have told me this is not the worst thing going on in their lives. Some know that the hard times they had before all this will continue after. So what’s hard for them is actually the death in the family that no one asked them about and they didn’t share at work. Or relationship troubles they are having. Or the some stress they are under that has nothing to do with the movement or maybe has everything to do with it and the broader picture. Point being, don’t ask people how they are because society suggested it. Do it and do it regularly and listen to their actual response and body language so you build trust and they feel comfortable telling you what IS the biggest stressor in their life right now, because as crazy as it sounds to say this, the BLM movement may not be it).
  • Hold others accountable in the moment
  • Assume positive intent
  • Seek to understand and gain context
  • Ask open-ended questions
  • Be self reflective
  • Ask for feedback

The opposite of criminalization is humanization

We can heal and work things out, we just need you on board.

Equality
BlackLivesMatter
Allyship

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Opportunity Made
Opportunity Made

Written by Opportunity Made

4 Followers
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Real lessons to break patterns, get unstuck, find freedom in business & life. Katherine Lewis brings you empowering insights you can use to transform your life!

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