THE PRACTICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RACIAL EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Two experts on racial equity provide practical materials and advice for organizations at all stages of DEI work.

Curry-Stevens and Baksh, who teach social work at Canada’s Wilfrid Laurier University, offer a guidebook on how to “hardwire equity into organizational policies, procedures, and practices.” It’s intended for municipal governments, nonprofits, and private-sector businesses that are “committed to making progress to building anti-racism.” The authors emphasize promoting a culture of inclusion that goes beyond the superficial appearance of diversity work; they note, for instance, that more “palatable” terms for “anti-racism” can be useful in advancing such goals: “Naming racism is an important part of the work, but it can be sidestepped in favor of the term ‘racial equity’ if naming racism is particularly provocative for staff.” Their data-driven solutions effectively point to the intrinsic and financial value of racial equity—from organizational composition to contracting and allocation practices—and they back their assertions with more than 400 scholarly endnotes. However, although this anti-racist guidebook may work well in a Canadian context, its applicability to American audiences may be limited by the current presidential administration’s active hostility to DEI work; the book lacks, for example, practical advice on how a vested organization might navigate interference by a hostile federal government. Still, the authors provide an ample assortment of surveys, worksheets, and other practical tools that can be used in organizational workshops and small groups. Most importantly, both the book’s narrative advice and its functional tools and worksheets will be useful for organizations at all levels of diversity work, from early to late stages. Curry-Stevens and Baksh emphasize that “planning often does not work in such a straightforward, linear way,” and the materials need not be employed in a preset chronological order; this adaptability makes it an ideal reference tool. The authors’ accessible writing style defines any jargon and is accompanied by helpful charts, diagrams, and other visual elements.

A well-researched, pragmatic guide to anti-racist policies in an organizational context.