Segregation still divides us.
Last week, we talked about Zoom calls for Kamala Harris that were organized by different groups like “Win with Black Women,” “White Women Answer the Call,” "White Dudes for Harris" and "Black, Gay, and Queer Men for Harris."
We wondered if these groups brought people together or pushed them apart and asked our readers for their thoughts.
One reader, Brian Young, took the time to send us a thought-provoking response. He thinks these groups can be a good thing. Here's why:
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The Legacy of Segregation
Brian reminds us that for a long time, America kept people apart based on race. He says: "Segregation has been socially constructed as a norm in our nation, which is why we have policies like Brown v Board of Education of 1954 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964…. We still segregate by race in our neighborhoods, our schools, and in our classrooms. We even segregate on our jobs because of the powerful lesson that we have learned with segregation." |
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Identity and Political Mobilization
"As a candidate for the presidency, Kamala Harris is a woman of Black/African American and Indian heritage. So naturally, others who identify in the same manner and want to help her realize her goals to become the next president are going to be motivated to organize/galvanize in a manner to get her elected." |
Brian also notes that some people have unfairly targeted Harris, saying she's not qualified. This might make people who've faced similar unfair treatment want to support her even more.
"Vice President Harris has also been attacked for her level of competence and qualifications, although she has experience in law and politics…. It is the lesson of segregation that our nation has taught us that is dictating how people organize and/or galvanize.”
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Unity vs. Division
We noted that some people claim everyone should be on the same side. But Brian asks a tough question: If we're all on the same side, “would she…even be attacked in the first place?” He thinks these identity groups might actually bring people together for a good cause. |
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Beyond Segregation
Brian believes there's room for everyone in America, even if we don't always act like it. He ends with an important message: We should focus on our goals, not our differences. “It is my view that the goal of these calls was not identity but to organize/galvanize toward a cause. Let the cause be the goal always, not identity.” |
This could help fix the problem of keeping people apart that has been around for centuries.
How can you take action?
Think about how you want to use Conscious Change to learn with others. If you plan to mobilize with others in whatever way you deem right for you, this is a great time to develop your skills.
Form a book club or dialogue group or join one of ours.
Tell us how we can be helpful to you.
Stay conscious and aware.
If you are reading this, we know you want to make a difference.
These newsletters are aimed at starting conversations. Email us at
jeanLC@leadingconsciously.com. Responses may appear on our
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Our award-winning book,
Conscious Change: How to Navigate Differences and Foster Inclusion in Everyday Relationships, was published July 9, 2024, featuring a foreword by Brené Brown and Myrtle Bell.
In the book, 19 authors describe how they used some of the six principles and 36 skills described in the book to navigate potentially polarizing situations in multicultural settings. We encourage you to order through our
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Did this resonate with your experiences as a leader in a multicultural environment? Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out at
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