Allies and Advocates

Learn to create an inclusive environment with this actionable and insightful resource

Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture delivers a powerful and useful message about inclusion and diversity in everyday life. Author Amber Cabral, a celebrated inclusion strategist, speaker, and writer, shows readers how to move away from discriminatory and unjust behaviors to supporting and building meaningful connections with people across our diverse backgrounds and identities.

While some books settle for vague advice and catchphrases, readers of Allies and Advocates will benefit from the book's:

• Straighforward style and applicable action items
• Real-world examples highlighting inclusion best practices
• Implementable tactics to assist people in seeing how they can help create an inclusive environment

Perfect for anyone who works in a professional environment, Allies and Advocates is especially useful for those in middle and upper management and those involved in the training and orientation of employees. If you are looking forward to building a culture of inclusivity at work or in your personal relationships, and want to learn how to use your privilege to be a better ally, Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture is a must-have.

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Part I Allies and Advocates 2

1 The Current Landscape 5

2 Background on the Black Experience in the United States 13

3 Allyship and Advocacy 25

4 Advocacy 53

Part II The Language of Inclusion 60

5 Language 63

6 Diversity 67

7 Identity and Intersectionality 71

8 Inclusion, Bias, and Unconscious Bias 79

9 Microaggressions 87

10 Equality and Equity 91

11 Privilege 95

12 System, Systemic, Systematic 101

13 -Isms and -Ist 107

14 Resistance Language 119

Part III Allyship Starts with You 124

15 The Work Starts with You 127

16 Role-Modeling Inclusion 131

17 Taking Care of Yourself 155

About the Author 161

Index 163

AMBER CABRAL is an inclusion strategist, certified coach, writer, and speaker who has been featured on television and in print and digital media. Formerly a Diversity Strategist at Walmart Stores, Inc., she is founder of Cabral Co., a diversity, equity, and inclusive leadership-focused consulting firm. She hosts the You Can Have Whatever You Want ^® podcast and regularly speaks and writes about inclusion, culture, equity, and social justice topics.

BUILD A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVITY

“In Allies and Advocates, Amber Cabral takes you by the hand and leads you into a world of vulnerability and self-exploration from which you emerge as an instrument of change. Witty, wise, and full of gems, this is the no-nonsense guide we’ve been waiting for–from a voice we can trust.”

—KISHA MODICA, Inclusion and Diversity Global Leader, Apple Inc.

If done right, inclusion positively impacts every part of society. Creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture isn’t easy—it requires courage, dedication, and a lot of hard work. Real inclusion requires you to take responsibility, and sometimes have uncomfortable conversations or make hard choices.

Succeeding at allyship means recognizing how your own privilege can empower you to create visibility and opportunities for those who are dealing with the impacts of systemic oppression.

You can contribute to and create cultures where fairness, respect, and mindfulness are the rule, rather than the exception. This is the key to building environments where everyone feels welcome, valued, and safe.

The goal of Allies and Advocates is to move organizations and society beyond mandated diversity initiatives and achieve long-term and impactful change. If you are looking forward to building a culture of inclusivity and want to learn how to use your privi­lege to be a better ally, Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture is a must-have.