People who fall into this category see themselves as self-made everyday hard-working people. They are individualists, strivers and survivors who believe they pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps. They focus on the interpersonal and their immediate circles of influence and are not concerned about much more beyond that. Although they may have black co-workers and friends, they say things like “slavery happened a long time ago, I’m colorblind and all lives matter.” They have bought into and aspire to the middle-class American dream and pride themselves on the fact that nobody handed them anything. They believe that we all have the same chances and opportunities - you just have to work for them. They wonder why other types of people are always whining. When issues of race come up they counter with questions like “What about black-on-black crime? Why do you need your own award shows?  Or your own month? What is most important to understand about this archetype is that they don’t believe they are racially biased or prejudiced because they believe in the concept of equality. They are not white supremacists, skinheads or Nazi’s - and they certainly do not believe they are privileged. They don’t look to stand out and take offence to those who prance around like “big shots.” Their mantra is if you want to succeed you just need to work hard.

People who fall into this category tend to feel horrible about the things they witness or hear about in the various forms of media. They say things like “I can’t believe that people can treat others so poorly.” Their most common feelings are shock, outrage and confusion. They have “friends” of diverse backgrounds but often only in the periphery i.e. my gardener is Chicano, my mechanic, nanny, daughter’s teacher is Black. They have a sense that they are fortunate to have the things they have and feel it is important to give back, however, they do not recognize their good fortune as being tied to a legacy of oppression. Moreover, they see their “giving back” as being more charitable in nature than tied to any shared sense of experience. People in this category also tend to be more communication-oriented than action-oriented. They are extremely curious about other cultures and sometimes even go out of their way to engage with people of color with a deep desire to be educated.  However, they are reluctant to share their own stories that would reveal their upbringing and the messages they received. They are often very forthright with their questions and don’t realize the magnitude of what they are asking or triggering. When interacting with people of color they can often feel shame, guilt or even embarrassment about their own reality and upbringing. What’s most important to understand about people in this archetype is that even though they may feel bad about what is going on, they do very little if anything at all to try and change it.

People who fall into this category are often newly awakened and fired up! Whether by education or personal experience, they have begun to embrace a broader understanding of the systemic nature of inequality and feel compelled to do something about it.  Early stage allies can become fixated on absorbing as much information as they can about the Black and Brown experience and the historical struggle for equality. Some may even become so radicalized that they reject their own Whiteness as a result.  This can often show up as a nagging impatience with other White people who “just don’t get it.” They actively seek to be in more diverse environments and hunger for authentic relationships and connections with people who are different from them.  They can either be very timid in people of color spaces out of a desire to show respect and demonstrate their solidarity or they can be even more boisterous and outspoken as they attempt to prove they are sympathetic to the cause. Early stage allies can often wrestle with very conflicting feelings about their own identity.  They can even feel a sense of isolation as they attempt to navigate between rejecting their old world and angling for acceptance and positioning within more vulnerable and marginalized communities. Unlike the Sympathetic Bystander, Early Allies have started to become active.  Whether it’s volunteering at the Boys Club or teaching in a school in a rough neighborhood or even adopting cultural expressions and or artforms that demonstrate a more global world view (locing their hair, engaging in hip hop culture, dating people of other races, etc.). These behaviors in the early stage can sometimes stem from a place of “curiosity,” “fascination”, or as an act of white rebellion.  Early Stage Allies can also get met with a lot of criticism by people of color for “co-opting their culture” or speaking out of turn or making certain assumptions about their level of knowledge and acceptance within those communities. In an attempt to survive, Early Allies sometimes leverage their Whiteness to create access or opportunities for others. What’s most important to understand about this archetype is that they are in the midst of a deep transition where they are attempting to shed one identity while still being unclear about whether or not they will be embraced on the other side.  In this stage they are still primarily internally focused so their efforts can often come across as well intentioned but confused and sometimes off the mark.

This archetype feels very confident in their analysis and understanding of inequality. They have spent years immersing themselves in educational content and in diverse communities and believe they have a strong read on what’s happening in the world. They are voracious consumers of diverse knowledge and perspectives, often world travelled and have forged deep bonds and authentic relationships with people of color. They often iconize black intellectuals both historical and current and often quote them in their discourse. They are respected as they move throughout diverse spaces and have a genuine desire to challenge racist structures. They see themselves as having benefited from systemic or institutional racism and they want to resist or fight against those systems. They have a tendency to want to uplift the stories of other people and use their platforms and resources to “push others upfront” out of a belief that this is what is necessary.  Even with the best of intentions, they can “dim down” as a way to make others feel comfortable with their Whiteness. They are often positioned as “humble”, “deeply knowledgeable” and “down.” And they can be very wedded to that identity. What is most important to know about Seasoned Allies is that they actively use their social capital and resources to consciously create space for the voices and concerns of people of color, however, in the process of doing so, they can sometimes undermine their own voice, value and purpose, and ultimately dilute their full power out of a distorted belief that this is what is necessary if one is to be a true ally.

People in this category are all about structural and systemic change. Beyond the interpersonal, they seek to move systems and policies in the direction of greater equality.  This archetype has a much deeper understanding of the ways that systems operate, and they see the work of dismantling these systems as being integral to their life mission and work. They tend to work behind the scenes and could care less about any form of spotlight. They just put their head down and go to work on the things they believe will really move the needle.  They have deep, authentic, familial and communal relationships that are born from years in the trenches working side by side with other passionate people. They tend to carry big ideas and visions for change and will use their various forms of capital and resources to make things happen. They are willing to risk time, money, relationships, and public favor for what they believe in. Their ultimate desire is to create equal room and space for more people to fulfill their full potential. They are not enamored by flashier efforts nor do they see  the commitments of all people of color as the same. They are savvy in their analysis of who truly cares and are observant in recognizing those who carry the same level of integrity, courage and commitment when it comes to systemic change - even if they choose to do the work in different ways. What is important to understand about this archetype is that they want to shift the systems and they take the work (and sometimes themselves) very seriously. They see it as their duty to disrupt any form of inequality when they experience it. And when push comes to shove they have no problem putting their money or their ass on the line.

People in this category hold a global vision that says “we are in this together” with people of color. They recognize their own complicit behavior and are willing to hold themselves to a higher standard. Whereas the Advocate is interested in transforming systems. The Vested Partner seeks to create new ideologies, structures, language and vehicles to move their vision of a more unified world into being. They believe at a fundamental level that the change has to be cultural and that the playing field must be leveled if everyone is truly going to thrive. They know the magnitude of their vision and they crave partnership and collaboration. They carry both a reverent and joyful approach to the work and see it as an opportunity to totally change the game while having no delusions about the depth and difficulty of the work required. They are excited about innovation and recognize that they must bring their full power to the table while still creating room for others to do the same so that real change can occur. They are willing to take on positions of leadership and actively and openly work with people of color towards these shifts. They are also willing to support new models and faces of leadership and see it as integral to the next wave. What is important to know about this archetype is that they operate with transparency and authenticity and have no problem making deep and long term commitments to support their desired change. For them, the solutions must include a new vision realized through deep collaboration that shifts attitudes, beliefs, lexicon and behavior.

This Knowledge indicator demonstrates the degree to which you go out of your way to educate yourself and increase your level of understanding about issues related to race, racial justice and equity.

Deepening your knowledge is an important part of being able to make an impact as an individual and as a leader. For example, if you live or work in a diverse community or environment, having a better understanding of historic, systemic and ongoing challenges your colleagues face strengthens your capacity to build authentic connections. And with authentic connections comes greater trust and credibility. And with greater trust and credibility comes the moral capacity to address the obstacles to true inclusion. Moreover, as a leader or someone who seeks to make a difference in the world, it is important to understand the root cause of the issues and challenges others and YOU face before you try to solve them. 

Knowledge Section is: 

0 - 2 Not Very Knowledgeable

3 - 6 Somewhat Knowledgeable

7 - 9 Knowledgeable

10 -12 Very Knowledgeable

If you scored 10 or above (Very Knowledgeable), congratulations,you are exercising an important commitment to continue to educate yourself in the name of greater understanding. 

Your work is to continue to deepen this commitment by consciously consuming content that expands your capacity to relate to the realities of others who are different than you.

If you scored 7-9 (Knowledgeable), good job, continue to expand your knowledge, identify your greatest sources of new information and integrate those sources into your learning agenda.

If you scored 3-6 (Somewhat Knowledgeable), that’s okay, you still have some learning to do. It’s just time to step up and immerse yourself further. Without deeper knowledge, it will be hard to have the impact you want to have.

If you scored 2 or below (Not Very Knowledgeable), don’t despair, your willingness to take this assessment means that you are curious and want to know more. So, as a start, take the listed people and events in the Assessment and make a commitment to jump in and start learning about them.

*For those interested in the underlying math, your Knowledge score is based upon the following scale:

If you knew this You received this number of points per question:

number the items listed

for each question:

0 - 1 = 0

2 - 3 = 1

4 - 5 = 2

6 - 7 = 3

As there were 4 questions with a maximum of 3 points each, the maximum score on this section is 12.

This Mindset indicator demonstrates the level of willingness you possess when it comes to cultivating a genuine sense of empathy, solidarity and concern for others whose racial realities and perspectives may be vastly different than your own. 

No matter how much you know, if your mindset prevents you from recognizing and internalizing the human implications of that information, then you will struggle in making a material difference. When it comes to issues about race and what you believe, do you find yourself wanting to distance yourself emotionally and take a more didactic, logical or intellectual posture? Do you find yourself having a hard time believing some of the stories you hear about the experience of others? When it comes to understanding the problems associated with race do you feel ill equipped to talk about it?  Do you see racism as a black person or people of color problem? Or do you see it as something that all of us have a responsibility to address? Are you able to stay present to your own thoughts, feelings and emotions as you come face to face with the devastating effects of these disparate realities on all of us? This is the most misunderstood,  neglected and resisted aspect of the work because it requires emotional investment and deep self-reflection. The level of courage, vulnerability and tenacity it takes to master mindset is found only in the rarest and most effective leaders.

 Mindset Section is:

0 - 2 Not Aligned

3 - 6 Somewhat Aligned

7 - 9 Aligned

10 -12 Extremely Aligned

If you scored 10 or above (Extremely Aligned), congratulations, you bring the kind of understanding and openness that will enable you to be most effective when engaging with others. 

If you scored 7-9 (Aligned), good job, continue to work on your ability to consider the realities of others in relationship to your own. 

If you scored 3-6 (Somewhat Aligned), that’s okay, you still have some mindset work to do. It’s just time to understand and embrace the inner work necessary to open up so you can increase your effectiveness and impact. For example, if you experienced intense feelings as you responded to the prompts in this section, you may want to examine where those emotions come from and whether they are consistent with how you want to show up and feel when it comes to engaging around issues of race.

If you scored 2 or below (Not Aligned), don’t despair, your willingness to take this assessment means that you are interested in making a shift. Acknowledging your feelings is very important because your emotions often contain important information about your true perceptions. Increased knowledge, a deep exploration of where your beliefs originate from and spending more time in this work will help your mindset to evolve.

*For those interested in the underlying math, your Mindset score is based upon the following:

Each of the 4 questions had 9 choices. Although the order was randomized, each of those statements was assigned a point value of 1-9 starting with 1 representing the least aligned mindset statement and 9 representing the most aligned mindset statement.

If you picked the question You received this number of points:

assigned this point range:

1-3 0

4-5 1

6-7 2

8-9 3

As there were 4 questions with a maximum of 3 points each, the maximum score on this section is 12.

This Behavior indicator may demonstrate how much you actually walk your talk when it comes to your level of commitment around issues of race, racial justice and equity.

This is where the rubber meets the road. Your vision for a more just and sustainable world comes to life through the aligned actions you take every day. Do you find that you have a lot to say around these issues?  When you consider your actions, do you find them to be consistent with the views and perspectives you espouse?  Do you find that you tend to do more (in the background) vs out front where others can see?  Do you look for credit or acknowledgement if you do show up in solidarity?  Are you taking actions that challenge your comfort zone or are you simply doing what feels easy?  Are your actions episodic i.e. situational and sporadic or are they a consistent part of your everyday life?  

Behavior Section is: 

0 - 2 Inactive

3 - 6 Somewhat Inactive

7 - 9 Active

10 -12 On Fire

If you scored 10 or above (On Fire), congratulations, you are clearly committed and making an impact and you know how to put your effort where your heart is.

If you scored 7-9 (Active), good job,  now consider what the next level of growth may be for you as you align your actions with your desired vision.

If you scored 3-6 (Somewhat Inactive), that’s okay, at least you’re doing something. It’s just time to consider whether you may need more direction.  So that you can step up and more consistently push past the fear.

If you scored 2 or below (Inactive), don’t despair, your willingness to take this assessment means that you took an action, and, likely, want to do more. It’s less about perfection and more about getting on the court. As a start, make a commitment to do just a couple of more things each week to build your taking action muscle.

*For those interested in the underlying math, your Behavior score is based upon the following:

Each of the 4 questions had you score yourself on a scale of 1-10.

If you ranked yourself: You received this number of points:

1-3 0

4-5 1

6-7 2

8-9 3

As there were 4 questions with a maximum of 3 points each, the maximum score on this section is 12.