Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace: A Guide for Equity and Inclusion

by Janice Gassam, Layla F. Saad (Foreword)

Your DEIJ efforts are stagnating because you continue to center whiteness. Creating a truly anti-racist organization requires learning how to identify and rectify the systemic, and often unconscious, centering of white culture and values in the workplace.

Corporate America continues to struggle with racial equity in a post-George Floyd world. As the United States becomes more diverse and the public consciousness continues to shift, successful racial equity efforts in the workplace are needed now more than ever.

Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace exposes the ways that white culture and expectations are centered in the modern American workplace and the fears within corporate spaces about talking candidly, openly, and honestly about whiteness, white supremacy, and anti-Blackness.

Readers will
A direct and straightforward analysis about what white-centering is An evaluation of the different ways that whiteness is centered in the workplace, such as bereavement and holiday policies and dress codes A guide on how to recognize and decenter whiteness within oneself and at work Solutions for people to contribute individually and systemically to anti-oppressionDecentering Whiteness in the Workplace provides a crucial guidebook with practical solutions for leaders, DEIJ practitioners, and anyone hoping to truly create an anti-racist workplace.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, Social Justice

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2023

Reviews

[Niecie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So spot on, every word.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gained some new insights and valuable reminders . I especially appreciate the ending statement that "urgency is an aspect of white culture". The desire to do everything all at once is not productive, the work must be conscientious.

[Leanna Fenneberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A values-centered and strategic look at systemic change for racial equity with very specific and practical suggestions.

[J.S.]

Even as a retired white lady, not active in the workplace, this book still holds a lot of food for thought about working toward decentering whiteness. While I might not engage in strategy meetings, I can still make a point of identifying problems of white-centered comments or actions when I see them.

(Today I was listening to a historian on the radio talk about how “no one” in 1830 could imagine a UnitedStates without slavery, and how “everyone” thought abolitionists were just crazy religions zealots. I expect there were plenty of non-white people in that time who he is ignoring and marginalizing with that language.)

Dog-eared sections for me include:
-“when it comes to compassionate listening, it’s helpful to remember three Rs: listen without feeling the need to respond, relate, or provide recommendations”…otherwise, us white people are in danger of invalidating others experiences.
-“be intentional about seeking out education to decolonize your white-centered views.” Such an easy ask, and yet Dr. Asare shows how easily even the world of DEI training and awareness tends to center on white views and white leadership (nailing an underlying queasiness with robin Deangelo and Jane Elliott for me). I know I need to be intentional about who I read and follow in whatever media I consume.
-“it’s a bad idea to focus so heavily on getting underrepresented groups into the workplace without giving an equal amount of attention to ensuring that these individuals actually feel safe and are being invited into a welcoming environment.” WOW. Definitely a fair statement for any white person working with non-white people, in any situation: make sure they feel safe and valued. (See comment on compassionate listening above.)

Much to think on here.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly helpful. I will say the more I kept reading the more overwhelming changes became. This read definitely made me take it in small chunks as I needed to reflect on all the emotions it stirred. Although it is incredibly easy to want to rush to make changes and implement all strategies I’m glad the conclusion reminded me to slow down and that urgency is white-centric too.

[Gaetan De · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a black man I find this book once again puts the blame on the white person for being white instead of accepting that it is the 21st century and we all get equal chances

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why is it ok for her to be racist? This book is RACIST.

[Estevan Hetherington · Rating 1 out of 5]

No