“Because they sacrificed… Lean into the energy”
Poem by Gregory R. Flowers Jr. (BDPA Member)
Because they sacrificed,
We may grow,
They planted the seed,
So we may root, stem, flower and fruit,
Because they sacrificed,
We may live,
They gave their lives,
For us to have the fullness of love and joy,
Because they sacrificed,
We are here,
They toiled, soiled, and labored,
To build the foundation from which we build.
As I reflect on Black History Month this year, I am called to a deeper remembrance of all the sacrifices of the many who paid the ultimate price in the name of justice and equity.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In the final hours of his life, he acknowledged that he might not experience the fullness of the justice for which he fought. The night before he was killed, speaking at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ, he said, “I have seen the mountaintop. I might not get there with you. But, we as a people will get to the promise land.”
The events over the past twelve months have caused a great cultural reset. Many leaders and companies alike have hit the reset button as it relates to racial justice. Hitting the reset button is a way of acknowledging the inequity and injustice of 400 years of systemic racism against Black Americans. The acknowledgement of the real impact of systemic racism is a critical step to the cultural reset.
Now that many are awoken to the real implication of racism, the next phase of the cultural reset is solutioning. The key impact areas of racial justice are jobs, healthcare, education, and criminal justice. Many companies have made public declarations to improve the diversity, equity, and inclusion of their workplace. BDPA is a part of the solution for the tech landscape.
For over 45 years, we have been “Advancing Careers from the Classroom to the Boardroom.” David Wimberly and Earl Pace created BDPA to be a part of the solution to push back against the strong headwinds of injustice and create a platform to develop more blacks in technology. BDPA has helped enable thousands of experiences and jobs over its four decades of existence.
Let me connect the historical context to the present day.
As BDPA National President, I am admonishing you to hit your reset button as it relates to your current career possibilities and lean into the energy.
Let me be the first to acknowledge the suppressive forces of racism on blacks and their career progressions. These forces have caused many to settle for less than their potential and God given ability. However, it is time for a reset.
Lean into the energy and go after your potential. This will translate into you consciously deciding where to focus your time and development.
Here are a few tips:
Be intentional about your work assignments to ensure you can couple your development needs with your day job. That is what I call a win-win.
Get the right support to achieve your desired outcomes. This can come in the form of resources or people. Dive into researching your declared area of focus and seek coaching or mentor-ship from people who get it and get you.
Invest in the appropriate experiences through conferences (e.g check here to sign up for VBDPA2021) and workshops to deepen your knowledge and connective tissue.In the last words of Harriet Tubman, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
I am suggesting our forefathers and mothers have labored so we can have the opportunities that this unique period is enabling.
Lean In!!
Terry J. Morris
BDPA National President
