Black Women’s Voices on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Reading List

As we approach the third anniversary of the Diversity Tipping Point — the period beginning May 29, 2020, when corporate America acknowledged that Black lives DO matter consider this: 

Collective action is essential for creating lasting change. It is important to create spaces where people from historically dominant and marginalized groups can come together to discuss and work toward solutions. This could include creating forums for dialogue, developing shared goals, and creating initiatives that bring people together to work towards a common goal.

Whether you’re a marketing director, an entry-level employee at a tech start-up, or a C-Suite executive, there are many great books to turn to these days that offer strong recommendations on changing the organizational systems that perpetuate inequities.  These books on DEI offer opportunities for readers to proactively bridge differences, integrate racial justice in the workplace, build sustainable DEI practices with technology, disrupt what it means to be productive and healthy at work, and more.

1. Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change by Mary-Frances Winters and The Winters Group Team (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2023) goes beyond a performative checklist, The Winters Group’s new how-to guide provides a framework for adopting a justice mindset address and correct harm in the workplace, with concrete action steps for implementing justice-centered practices in leadership, procurement, learning and development, marketing, philanthropy, and more. This book, composed by a multi-ethnic and generational collective of DEI experts, is divided into Reimagining Justice in the Workplace and Realizing Justice in the Workplace.

2. Innovating for Diversity: Lessons from Top Companies Achieving Business Success through Inclusivity

Innovating for Diversity: Lessons from Top Companies Achieving Business Success through Inclusivity by Susanne Tedrick (Wiley, 2023): Veteran DEI advocates Bertina Ceccarelli and Susanne Tedrick explain how the principles of innovation can be applied to build sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion practices embraced at all levels across your organization. I this book readers will discover inspirational stories from business leaders who have created smart, bold, and practical solutions to address limited DEI progress within their companies.

3. Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work

Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work (Harvard Business Review Press, 2022): Despite efforts made in the last few decades, gender and racioethnic equity still hasn’t been achieved. We need to change how we strive for equity by comprehending that gender equity can’t happen without racial equity and how to use vulnerability, trust, empathy, and risk-taking to build Shared Sisterhood at work. In this book, Tina Opie and Beth A. Livingston balance a mix of history, research, and real-life examples—including the authors’ own experiences to show how all women can experience the benefits of professional growth and equity.

4. The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change

The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change: by Bethaney Wilkinson (HarperCollins, 2021): is a fearless, groundbreaking guide to help leaders at every level shatter the barriers that are causing diversity efforts to fail. Readers will be equipped to shift their organizational culture from one that has good intentions for “diversity” to one that addresses systemic barriers to all employees thriving at work; and be emboldened to participate in creating an organizational culture where people from various racial backgrounds are growing in their purpose, making their highest contributions, and collaborating effectively towards greater impact at work and in the world.

5. In The Anti-Racist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace

In The Anti-Racist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace: by Shereen Daniels (Wiley, 2022): HR strategist Shereen Daniels delivers an incisive and honest discussion of how business leaders can push past discomfort to credibly and authentically lead change, why it’s important to empower colleagues to be pioneers of change and how to do that, ways language can either be a weapon to perpetuate systemic racism or a tool to dismantle and more.  The author draws on her personal and client-facing experience, historical facts, legal proceedings, HR insights, and quantitative analysis to equip readers with the knowledge and tools they need to transform their companies.

6. The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence

The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence: by Tara Jaye Frank (Amplify Publishing, 2022): not only makes a compelling case for change. It also teaches you how to facilitate that change. Tara Jaye Frank demonstrates how those in positions of authority can create a more equitable work environment by comprehending the steps necessary to reach true equity, what their employees desire from them, the link between meeting talent needs and unlocking company value, and recognizing the major obstacles and chances for intervention.

Use these books’ knowledge, practices, and strategies to construct an environment that fosters respectful and non-judgmental dialogue about race and racism, allowing employees to share their experiences and perspectives openly.