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The Business of Race: How to Create and Sustain an Antiracist Workplace―And Why it’s Actually Good for Business
This book is not written specifically for White readers, Black readers, readers who are Latino, Asian, or other specific racial or ethnic groups. If you are a business leader, individual contributor, Human Resources or DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) professional, educator, coach, or consultant, then The Business of Race is for you.
In the business world, incident-driven, company position statements on Black Lives Matter or Stop Asian Hate are not proxies for the heavy lifting that will penetrate and sustain a shift in the status quo. Advancing racial equity to disrupt institutional racism requires more than a company-wide memo or a tab on a corporate website.
Businesses often water down, negate or skirt this reality by touting successes from its cousin ―diversity. However, you cannot advance a strategy you do not name. The general term “diversity” enables that dynamic. It’s impossible to create an antiracist workplace when we avoid speaking the words ``race” and “racism.”
Co-authored by two business women, one Black and one White, The Business of Race can help us all prepare for this transformative work. Rather than diving headfirst with well-meaning but ineffectual efforts, we must first ready our organizations. The authors outline both the inner work (raising our own individual awareness and creating new ways of thinking and being), and the outer work organizations must undertake. This includes honest and often uncomfortable discussions. And carrying out as core to operational business strategy and performance, policies and practices to reimagine a racially equitable workplace.
Whether you’re a rising entrepreneur, a supervisor or manager, a leader of a large multinational company, or a frontline employee, you’ll find concrete actions in this essential Woven throughout The Business of Race are interviews with dozens of business professionals across myriad industries, fields and organizational levels. Their stories bring voice to the challenges and opportunities businesses face every day, and provide readers with the courage and tools to openly, honestly, and effectively address the deeply complex, emotional and intimidating dynamic of race and racism in the workplace.
In the business world, incident-driven, company position statements on Black Lives Matter or Stop Asian Hate are not proxies for the heavy lifting that will penetrate and sustain a shift in the status quo. Advancing racial equity to disrupt institutional racism requires more than a company-wide memo or a tab on a corporate website.
Businesses often water down, negate or skirt this reality by touting successes from its cousin ―diversity. However, you cannot advance a strategy you do not name. The general term “diversity” enables that dynamic. It’s impossible to create an antiracist workplace when we avoid speaking the words ``race” and “racism.”
Co-authored by two business women, one Black and one White, The Business of Race can help us all prepare for this transformative work. Rather than diving headfirst with well-meaning but ineffectual efforts, we must first ready our organizations. The authors outline both the inner work (raising our own individual awareness and creating new ways of thinking and being), and the outer work organizations must undertake. This includes honest and often uncomfortable discussions. And carrying out as core to operational business strategy and performance, policies and practices to reimagine a racially equitable workplace.
Whether you’re a rising entrepreneur, a supervisor or manager, a leader of a large multinational company, or a frontline employee, you’ll find concrete actions in this essential Woven throughout The Business of Race are interviews with dozens of business professionals across myriad industries, fields and organizational levels. Their stories bring voice to the challenges and opportunities businesses face every day, and provide readers with the courage and tools to openly, honestly, and effectively address the deeply complex, emotional and intimidating dynamic of race and racism in the workplace.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published August 30, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 15, 2021
I was fortunate to be an early reader of this book because one of the authors is a library patron.
Overall, I really liked it and from the first chapter kept thinking that this was a book I could see reading alone as an individual interested in racism and diversity, as part of a group participating in a workplace training or class, and/or as part of a college business class--although I never took a business class in college so I could be wrong!
I also kept thinking that the writing just kind of flowed along nicely.
My favorite parts of the book were the stories woven throughout. The concepts came alive because of the real-life stories. I like to read biographies for the same reason, and Studs Terkel's "Working" came to mind as I read.
Overall, I really liked it and from the first chapter kept thinking that this was a book I could see reading alone as an individual interested in racism and diversity, as part of a group participating in a workplace training or class, and/or as part of a college business class--although I never took a business class in college so I could be wrong!
I also kept thinking that the writing just kind of flowed along nicely.
My favorite parts of the book were the stories woven throughout. The concepts came alive because of the real-life stories. I like to read biographies for the same reason, and Studs Terkel's "Working" came to mind as I read.
September 25, 2021
This book is terrific! Margaret Greenberg and Gina Greenlee have an excellent writing style, while filling their pages with solid research and numerous examples from companies with "boots on the ground." Highly recommended for business leaders, and those leading any organization.
September 17, 2021
This is the book I wish I had last summer. No seriously. I sit on my company’s black caucus affinity group and as a white woman I’ve often felt unsure of how to participate. During our last group meeting, I was able turn to the chapter on how to recruit more people of color and point to the suggestions the authors make. Having something concrete to reference was invaluable. I found this book to give realistic actionable next steps to a topic that is often undiscussed.
The authors(and the foreword by Tom Rath 🤩) recommend not reading this book in one sitting but rather to read and then reflect. I’ve found that to be powerful.
The authors(and the foreword by Tom Rath 🤩) recommend not reading this book in one sitting but rather to read and then reflect. I’ve found that to be powerful.
September 28, 2021
Diversity, equity and inclusion are important, intertwined, and complex issues. Addressing them effectively requires forethought, planning, and commitment. The Business of Race draws on research and corporate experiences to help leaders become confident agents of positive change. The journey will not be easy, but the effects on organizational culture will be well worth the investment.
October 7, 2021
I was looking for some specific ways to best use all of the talent in the organization to get people to work together with harmony, common purpose and minimal friction. Getting such a combination is no easy task, but the Business of Race provided a range of methods to achieve this goal. The section of the book: New Policies, New Practices was particularly useful in developing better ways to recruit, select and compensate a diverse workforce as it is so easy to let unconscious bias find it’s way into your decision making. (I love the Billy Beane and Moneyball references). Most important was the help the book provides with using effective communications and team practice to get a diverse group of people to pull together for the good of the organization. My area of focus is with small non profits. I found the contents of this book especially helpful with these kinds of organizations. Overall, a great read that you can apply immediately.
November 10, 2023
In the Business of Race, Margaret Greenberg and Gina Greenlee provide a powerful perspective and practical strategies regarding the challenges we face to address the issues of race, confront racism and work toward the ideal of an antiracist workplace. Their honest personal reflections and deep and broad research lead to a no-nonsense approach to DEI work that has great potential for impact, making organizations healthier, stronger and more effective going forward.
December 31, 2022
If this is your first read about racial awareness, it's pretty good, especially about navigating racial discussions in the workplace. But for someone who has been through training it doesn't add much.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews