Why naming race in leadership matters
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Hi friend, Historically, for many white politicians, race hasn’t had to be named. Whiteness functioned as the default in positions of power for generations. When something is the default, it gets treated as neutral. But that neutrality was built through exclusion. For many Black and Latin leaders, race shapes who gets visibility, who gets legitimacy, and who is recognized as authority. Naming that Colombia's vice president, Francia Márquez, is Afro-Colombian isn’t reducing her. It’s acknowledging the structures that have historically made her presence in leadership rare. It's also part of expanding what we register as normal, legitimate, and safe in positions of power. Who we see shapes what feels legitimate. What feels legitimate shapes what feels possible. What feels possible shapes how we move. We name it so we can notice the systems that shape opportunity, and so that we can imagine a landscape where more people can belong. Jose 💛
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Coaching with Jose
Hi friend,I’ve been thinking about how often people judge their first reaction to something. For example, if you notice a shift in someone's tone, you might decide that their message feels a little off, and then your brain immediately starts trying to figure out what that means. A lot of people assume this kind of quick reaction is a flaw, but for many of us, reacting quickly was a skill we had to develop. We had to read the room; we had to notice tone shifts and try to understand what...
Hi friend, You know, narratives are commonly shaped through our daily interactions. What gets named consistently becomes normal. What is normal starts to feel central, and what feels central shapes our sense of belonging. If blackness or any other part of your heritage has been pushed to the margins, this won't change unless you practice it. Here are some examples: You can interrupt distancing language. Instead of brushing off comments that keep your sense of identity small, bring it back to...
Hi friend, I’ve been talking a lot about awareness lately, and I want to expand on something that doesn’t get named enough. Awareness doesn’t just bring clarity. Sometimes it brings emotion. The more aware you are, the more you can see your own patterns: How you adapted What you absorbed Who you learned to be in order to stay safe or belong. Noticing these things can stir up a lot. I’ve seen it in myself and in the people I work with: anger, sadness, defensiveness, and even grief. Grief isn’t...