How to Talk to Your Boss About Race

Speaking Up Without Getting Shut Down

By: Y-Vonne Hutchinson

Narrated by: Y-Vonne Hutchinson

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

An indispensable practical toolkit for dismantling racism in the workplace without fear

Reporting and personal testimonials have exposed racism in every institution in this country. But knowing that racism exists isn’t nearly enough. Social media posts about #BlackLivesMatter are nice, but how do you push leadership towards real anti-racist action?

Diversity and inclusion strategist Y-Vonne Hutchinson helps tech giants, political leaders, and Fortune 500 companies speak more productively about racism and bias and turn talk into action. In this clear and accessible guide, Hutchinson equips employees with a framework to think about race at work, prepares them to have frank and effective conversations with more powerful leaders, helps them center marginalized perspectives, and explains how to leverage power dynamics to get results while navigating backlash and gaslighting.

How to Talk to Your Boss About Race is a crucial handbook to moving beyond fear to push for change. No matter how much formal power you have, you can create antiracist change at work.

©2022 Y-Vonne Hutchinson (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A hilarious how-to guide as well as a memoir about her own experience as a Black woman insistent upon a truly inclusive work environment." —Elle

"Hutchinson’s book, in one sense, is about power—and a reminder that employees have the ability to make change happen, too." —Forbes

"This book will let everyone, from top to bottom, understand how power works, what kinds of power they have, and, most importantly, how each and every one of us should use our power to dismantle racism, too."—Ellen Pao, cofounder of Project Include and author of Reset

Brutal Honesty Highly Educational

Brutal honesty. Wish I had this guidebook earlier in my tech sales career. If you're not careful you just may learn something.

Wow

This book is empowering, effective strategies that lead you through the way.
I am glad I found it.

The audio made the book more impactful

I picked this book up to help me drive worthwhile conversation and change in my workplace. And I think it gives you a lot of great takeaways but also had some opportunity for more. As an individual contributor at work(also a cis white woman), I'm not always aware of what 'could' be the systemically racist practices or policies in place and what's just a symptom of the environment in which my workplace is placed?

I also couldn't just get into the text, so I bought the audio book about halfway through and really enjoyed listening to Y-Vonne on my drives to and from work. She's a dynamic speaker and I can see why having her in front of an audience to discuss subject matter like this has made her business successful.

No matter who you are, this is a great listen!

This book spoke to both allies and people of color searching for empowerment in professional spaces that are either wholly ignorant of diversity or that actively uphold racist practices.
I am a young (early 20s), white, cis woman and not yet in the professional environments that would warrant reading this book, but I wanted to be better prepared to support my friends and coworkers for when I do. Several great resources, phrases, and suggestions (including things to consider if you decide to unionize or get a lawyer) that I would not have considered an option before reading.