By Zenell B. Brown
The legal community gets it. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not going to happen by attending an annual training or watching a talking head on screen. DEI has to be infused in our day-to-day lives to become the norm. It has to be a part of conversations and activities and individual attorneys and bar associations are embracing book discussion as the perfect platform to explore and build habits that support diversity and inclusion.
Book discussions provide a comfortable atmosphere for uncomfortable conversations of DEI, to occur. With a few ground rules to ensure respect, honesty, and listening, and an engaged facilitator, members in a book discussion share their "aha moments" and honest expressions of "I never knew that." Moreover, these mixed groups of allies, benefactors, and pending diversity converts openly discuss the issues; reflect upon their own personal and professional experiences, which makes history not seem so distance. The clear takeaways from the discussion is that diversity and inclusion is an issue for the whole legal community to address and not just women, LBGTQs, black, and lawyers of color. Individually and collectively, attorneys must build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive legal community.
Who's doing what now?
Local bar associations, affiliate bar associations, and sections of the State Bar of Michigan have launched book clubs or embarked on book discussions as part of their activities.
At the State Bar level, The Alternative Resolution Dispute Section's Diversity and Inclusion Action Team launched its book club with a discussion of Isabella Wilkerson's "Warmth of Other Suns." The NY Times Best seller shares four stories of individuals who migrate to the North. Over the year, the group of a handful of faithful attendees has grown exponentially and the attendees have discussed "White Fragility" by Robin D'Angelo and other titles. On its December agenda, the attendees will begin their discussion of another Isabella Wilkerson's NY Times best seller - "Caste."
As for local bar associations, the Oakland County Bar Association provides a list of materials to facilitate conversations on anti-racism. The Detroit Bar Association has traditionally hosted in-person authors and book signings, as well as book discussion. Additionally, the DBA's magazine "The Detroit Lawyer" offers opportunities for members to recommend book titles such as "The Partner Track" by Helen Wan, which explores the large firm experiences of attorneys for traditionally under-represented groups.
On Facebook Live, The Black Women Lawyers recently hosted a discussion of "Coffee and Conversations: Inclusion and Belonging." I invited its members and the legal community to discuss the pangs navigating unwelcoming or apathetic workplaces and legal communities and to identify ways to build a more inclusive legal community and where those who are not traditionally represented experience belonging. What surfaced was a desire to have a meaningful conversation with the white sisters in the law to ensure all women and issues pertinent to women of color are uplifted and advanced in the legal community.
The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan hosted discussions in various regions and encouraged attendees to patronage local black bookstore owners to purchase their books. "How to Be Anti-Racist" was originally scheduled for one session, but was extended as the members wanted to continue the discussion to learn more about colorism and the historical context of race. WLAM, along with MI Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges, encouraged women attorneys in MI to attend a national book discussion of "The Memo."
No one should be naïve to think that book clubs or discussion of good books will move the needle forward on diversity and inclusion. But they are definitely a tool and starting point to engage attorneys. They can be the platform that prompt attorneys to make their day-to-day routines more inclusive, creating diversity and inclusion committees within their bar association, seeking to have the firms adopt more inclusive recruiting and promotion practices.
The ancient truth is books open the minds and imagination. Therefore, a good book discussion can do immeasurable good in moving diversity, equity, and inclusion forward in the legal community.
A list of good resources to stir up good trouble
"Now more than ever before, it is time for each of us to get in trouble good trouble, necessary trouble," John Lewis reminded us.
Here is a list of good resources that I have found in 2020 that can help you on your way. I have incorporated them in my trainings and shared them on social media platforms, and I urge anyone involved or interested in diversity and inclusion to check them out.
Resources
- National Diversity Council (DiversityFirst) at http://www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org/
- Harvard IAT at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
- The National S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project at https://www.nationalseedproject.org/
- Clear, James. Atomic Habit.
- Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit.
- Crucial Skills at https://www.vitalsmarts.com/crucialskills/2014/03/how-to-make-it-safe-for-you/
- Gardenswartz, Lee, Anita Rowe. Diverse Teams at Work.
- The Crisis in Federal Government Succession Planning: What's Being Done About It?
- "Transgender Civility: A Primer." LACHES, Oakland County Bar Association October 2019
- "Inclusion Starts With I" video at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2g88Ju6nkcg
- "6 Signature Traits of Inclusive Leadership" at https://hbr.org/sponsored/2018/01/the-six-signature-traits-of-inclusive-leadership
- "Are you biased? I am." Kristen Pressner, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq_xYSOZrgU
- Myers, Verna A. Moving Diversity Forward.
- "Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace" course at www.coursera.org
- "Implicit Bias Concepts Unwrapped" video at https://youtu.be/OoBvzI-YZf4
- 4-H info at https://4-H.org and the 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge https://foodsolutionsne.org/21-day-racial-equity-habit-building-challenge/
- ABA's 21 Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge https://www.americanbar.org/groups/judicial/resources/race-equity-and-inclusion/21-day-challenge/
- Diversity and inclusion in the workplace https://www.coursera.org/learn/diversity-inclusion-workplace
- Foundations of Diversity and Inclusion at Work TeachOut https://www.coursera.org/learn/foundations-of-diversity-and-inclusion-at-work-teachout?
- Coffee and Conversations: Inclusion and Belonging by Zenell B. Brown
- 11 Terms You Should Know to Better Understand Structural Racism https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/structural-racism-definition/
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Zenell B. Brown is involved in diversity and inclusion in her professional and personal life. To advance diversity in the legal profession, Brown shares some experience and insights in "Coffee and Conversations: Inclusion and Belonging" which is now available on Amazon.
