President's Message – February 2022
Around a decade ago I was leading a book club with a social awareness theme, and we picked books via a democratic process. I was disappointed to find out that the book with the most votes was The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. I wanted it to be a book on women’s rights. Reading a book on African American men incarcerated had little to do with my world.
Within the first chapter or two, my perception on the world shifted. I was reading statistics and truths I had no idea about and was frankly ashamed that I felt so disconnected based on the subject matter. Shortly thereafter I was in line getting on a MUNI bus when I saw people ahead of me claiming seats anywhere but the one next to a young black man, who was looking down at his feet the whole time. My heart broke in a million pieces as I took the seat next to him, wondering whether I would have practiced the same unconscious bias before reading the book.
A couple of years ago I saw the SNL skit “The Impossible Hulk”, where Idris Elba gets angry in a clothing store and turns into an “emboldened white lady” (played by Cecily Strong). Again my perception shifted, this time recognizing the special treatment I get as a white woman in our society.
Judging people based on levels of melanin in our skin is as ridiculous as it sounds. But it’s a bad prejudice that runs so strong in our country that even if we recognize the nonsense, we fail to fully see the dangerous repercussions (unless we are targeted) and our part in continuing the pattern.
Over the next two weeks, in honor of Black History Month, this newsletter will be dedicated to hearing from Black American trailblazers in the A/E/C industry and those who are active in SMPS. Through learning about their experiences, we hope you will join us in honoring their contributions to our industry and committing to being a better partner and advocate for our Black colleagues, not just this month, but all year round.
But we can’t just be passive. We have to champion the change ourselves no matter how small it seems (see sidebar on taking a survey). A few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast because my favorite Peloton instructor Tunde was being interviewed. She talked about the aftermath of George Floyd, and what really resonated with her was seeing posts from white people admitting that they never took her class before because they previously looked at her and simply thought that wasn’t for them, but decided this time to make a different choice.
So, if you’re wondering where to start or pick up, I encourage you to take a look at your life and consider how often you see something from someone who doesn’t look enough like you, and just dismiss it as something that’s not for you. Whether it’s a class instructor, a book, a film, or a local restaurant, etc., make a different choice this time.
I did this in fall 2020 at Green Apple bookstore when I stumbled on the first book in L. Penelope's epic fantasy Earthsinger series. What drew me to it initially was the cover. It was my first time seeing a fantasy book cover featuring a Black protagonist. Given that fantasy is a major genre, I was surprised to realize in that moment that I couldn’t recall seeing a black woman on a fantasy book cover. Since the description was right up my alley too, I bought the book on the spot at full price. Now I am terribly sad to report that I have just one more book in the series to read.
To quote the late great Maya Angelou, “The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.”
Shannon Daggett, CPSM
Marketing Manager, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc.
[email protected]
President, SMPS SF Bay Area Chapter
