MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Addressing Racism, Word by Word

To achieve progress in addressing racism, businesses must move beyond arguments about semantics.

As protests against racism have filled streets across the country this year, I’ve been hearing from businesses looking for ways to navigate these controversial times. They generally have good intentions. But all too often, their efforts to take action devolve into petty battles over language.

The terms unconscious bias, white privilege, and even Black Lives Matter can trigger emotional, defensive responses — something I see frequently in deeply conservative parts of Texas where I consult with companies. It becomes a trap.

About the Author

Denise Hamilton (@watchherworktv) is an inclusion strategist and the author of the forthcoming book Do Something: An Ally’s Guide to Changing Yourself So You Can Change Your World. She is the CEO and founder of WatchHerWork, a multimedia platform closing the achievement gap for professional women.

Learn more about MIT SMR.