Race, to all people who use the term correctly, is a matter of a few easily observed physiological characteristics: the color of your skin, the texture of your hair, and the shape of a few extremities . . . But there is no scientific correlation between those physical features and behavior. The only correlation comes from the conditioning of the consciousness—and that is not the same thing as race. Consciousness and race just don’t correlate.
                                                                                            —Albert Murray

Here are some of the core assumptions that I hold that inform how I approach equity leadership coaching:
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• The lies of race, racism, patriarchy and any other form of oppression divide us – all of us – not only from each other, but also from our true selves. They stunt our development, and get in the way of our ability to be who we are truly meant to be.  
  
  
• We all suffer as a result – both those most directly impacted by oppression, as well as those who would seem to benefit.
  
  
• This alienation from our true selves can be deeply painful and traumatic. Something dehumanizing has been done to all of us.
  
  
• This pain looks different depending on one’s race, gender, class, personality, family upbringing, and a host of other factors. While there are trends in what this looks like for each of these groups, there is no one-size fits all.
  
  
• It is particularly important – and yet particularly challenging – for groups who may only be viewed as benefitting – white people, men, etc. – to come to authentically recognize how they suffer from this oppression. Otherwise, equity work can feel like it’s “not really about them”, or is in opposition to them.
  
  
• The only way this happens is within an ongoing relational process that tends to people’s own pain and trauma, helps them in a developmental way (i.e. not dictating to them) make the connection between their suffering and the larger systems of domination and oppression that we are living in, and boost their internal power to decide for themselves who they are going to be and how they are going to act in the face of this.
  
  
• Attempts to do anti-racist education work without also doing this relational work to tend to people’s pain and trauma and increase their internal power to choose will oftentimes either backfire, leading to more trauma and toxicity, or simply not lead to substantive change. 

Additional Reading:

My Vision & Approach to Equity Leadership Coaching​

Equity Leadership Coaching for White Leaders