George Floyd — Photo by munshots on Unsplash

Accountability is needed to drive change

Former police officer, Derek Chauvin, has been convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter over the death of George Floyd. For the first time in Minnesota State history, a white police officer has been held accountable for killing a black man. Chauvin is expected to be sentenced to 12.5 years in prison. This is victorious for all of the victims who have previously not received such recognition. However, we are far from the goal of eradicating a system that maintains social injustice and oppression of certain groups of people and allows these types of tragedies to be repeated.

Yesterday was the beginning but far from being enough. We need to change a system that sustains racial inequities. Our systems are BROKEN. The work is not finished. Let’s change the narrative together! Every day I tell myself that the world can change not by my opinions but by my actions and we are stronger when we work together. I want to be able to breathe deeply and feel free.

In this tragedy, George Floyd is not a martyr, he would have liked to be alive today. He did not choose to sacrifice his life for justice as Nancy Pelosi thanks him. His life was taken away.

As a French woman, I am very aware that this is not a unique situation that only exists in the United States. We in France have our own issues to deal with in regard to social injustice and discrimination against minorities, women, and children. It is also a system that should be dismantled in its entirety since it was also developed historically without inclusion, and we can see the repercussions.

From the perspective of companies that create inclusive cultures by leveraging and valuing differences to achieve superior results, it is important to remember that accountability is essential. Whatever initiatives you undertake to begin change within your company, as a leader or as individual, you cannot change without having the ability to hold yourself accountable for your own actions, behaviors, or the environments you create. Diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, workshops and so on will have no effects.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dolores Crazover is the founder and CEO of DEI & You Consulting.

She has a passion for microbiology and is on a mission to complete a Rubik’s Cube within four years.