For anyone who has BIPOC coworkers.
1-Be respectful of their mental and physical space and focus. If your BIPOC coworker is working on a task, take a moment to say hello and ask them how they are doing or what fun stuff they’re working on; and if you need their assistance with something, ask if you can trouble them for a moment of their time or if they might be free to talk with you. Otherwise, consider giving them space and letting them get their work done.
2-Be conscious of the time of day and the day of the week. At the end of the workday and toward the end of the workweek, everyone is tired, and BIPOC staff might be extra tired because they’re dealing with micro-aggressions/bias, everyday stresses due to racism, and the exhaustion of code-switching and white-centering or catering to white fragility. If you are approaching BIPOC staff for something that is not urgent, please wait for a fresh workday or please determine if it can wait for a fresh workweek before you bring it up, especially if it’s something potentially stressful.
3-Understand that BIPOC must speak for themselves. They have their own voices and perspectives. Unless they’ve given you permission to speak on their behalf, it’s better to just step back and ask them to share their views for themselves. This doesn’t mean you can’t advocate for someone who is BIPOC; it just means you are not their messenger or spokesperson. You can amplify their voices but you first need to let those voices emerge from the BIPOC.
4-Please never tell a BIPOC that they are in trouble with the boss when they have done nothing wrong. This is workplace terrorism, and it needs to stop. And even if they’ve made a mistake, it doesn’t mean they’re in trouble. It just means it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.
5-Please do not summon BIPOC to an office or to an enclosed space. BIPOC are not slaves or servants or minions. Above all, Black staff or staff descended from Black Africa are not to be summoned or directed as if they are incapable of thinking for themselves. Check your power and check your privilege before you treat Black staff as if they need to be kept in line or reminded of their place.
Note: if you notice that BIPOC are emotional or crying during an interaction or conversation, stop the interaction immediately and offer support or help or comfort or space. Stop talking to or at the person. Allow BIPOC to take a break, to leave, to breathe, to know that it is okay to walk away and rest and revisit the conversation later. Nothing in the moment is urgent or an emergency or crisis and nothing should be grounds to cause fear or terror in BIPOC. BIPOC should not be made to feel that they have caused a crisis or are involved in a crisis in the moment. Prioritize feelings of safety and protection for BIPOC, because BIPOC may already be feeling afraid and fearful that their lives are at risk. Do not further frighten or intimidate or dominate or aggress or terrorize BIPOC.
6-Let BIPOC do their work. They were hired, so it’s their job. They show up to their job to get their work done. They do not need to focus on you and your issues. They are there for their work. Respect that and respect their focus on themselves and their work. If you have an issue at work, strive to find solutions and communicate with your manager, rather than projecting anger or frustration at BIPOC and create conflicts for BIPOC to then navigate. Please find solutions for your issues and do not harm BIPOC because you feel unhappy at work. BIPOC who show up to work are shouldering things you may simply not be able to imagine, please do not burden them to solve your issues, unless they are specifically related to the tasks assigned to BIPOC staff and are part of their job duties.
Note: If you have BIPOC coworkers, and in this case, specifically Black coworkers, keep in mind that the George Floyd trial that began this week is a re-living of his killing and re-traumatizing of Black people, and even if justice is met in the court, the horror/terror of what was done to him and what has been done to Black people historically (and continues to be done) can never be erased from our minds and can never be hidden from history. Show compassion and respect to your Black coworkers. Show gratitude and humility and give them the space and honor and resources that they and their ancestors were robbed of. They are living with a specific kind of terrorism in America and across the globe that is called anti-Black racism and white supremacy. Black people are survivors of nightmares many cannot imagine. Black people are a miracle and a gift to humanity.
~Viola Allo