Challenging Structural Racism & Implicit Bias in New York Nonprofits

Nonprofits have been called into greater accountability around racial justice in the wake of the surge in civil rights mobilizing ignited by the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. Interpersonal, institutional, and systemic racism exists in the nonprofit space, as they exist in any other industry. Most of the efforts of nonprofits are ultimately targeted to communities of color trying to support and improve these communities. However, despite our best efforts and hard work, we can perpetuate racial disparities and harm our clients while trying to help them. Moreover, the nonprofit sector in New York remains a largely white-dominated space. Despite intentionality to serve and support the entire community, these spaces are hard to navigate and even harder to thrive in for people of color. 

As a young professional coming to New York from a foreign country, I discovered the nonprofit sector to be accessible, exciting, fulfilling, and promising. I was in such awe, that I committed myself to the work and remained optimistic, hopeful, and incredibly naive for years. I still remember the first time that someone explained what white privilege was.  At the time I was surprised that the concept even existed and refuted its existence in the real world. The year 2014 brought my first conversations about race with the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. I could see that many of my colleagues were upset and concerned. My role in these conversations at the time was to listen and acknowledge that I didn’t know what was happening, that I wanted to keep my ears open and learn. 

Then, surely but slowly, I started noticing things. Why are my white peers getting promoted at a faster rate? Why is leadership not representative of the people we serve or me? Why do they repeatedly point to the only person of color in a leadership position as an example? Why are differences questioned and labeled as something to watch out for or to be careful of? Why do we insist on a specific, narrow narrative for the communities we serve? I initially thought, undoubtedly, this has to be a coincidence and I am imagining things. I was so committed to the work that part of my identity was attached to it and an admission of the magnitude of structural racism, bias, and privilege would shatter me at my core. Evidently, we were not racist, just as clearly as we weren’t anti-racist. 

The system we are working in is often replicating and perpetuating systemic racism set to oppress Black people and other people of color to favor whiteness. “Not being racist” is not only not enough, it’s not even a real thing. Cardozie Jones, an amazing DEI consultant, and explained to me in a workshop that racism in America is like a train and we are all on board. And, as we know from Howard Zinn, you can't be neutral on a moving train. Remaining still does nothing to stop the train. You have to actively work on slowing the train down so that it can be stopped. The trends that I’ve seen, I realized later, were everywhere. In other nonprofits, in other fields, in other realms of life in New York City. In fact, in every single aspect of life in America. If you know how it looks, you can see racism everywhere. 

So, what’s the point? We are in the business or social change, fighting racism and dismantling white supremacy is arguably the single most important endeavor of our generation for social good. In order to do so, we have to face the fact that white supremacy thinking, and its manifestations, are everywhere: perfectionism, sense of urgency, progress is bigger, objectivity, etc. (for a full list, read this from Showing Up For Racial Justice). Sounds familiar to you? For me, it sounds like every day at work. We have to face privilege, structural racism, and white supremacy culture in our nonprofits. 

We all deserve to be part of a community where our differences are valued; where our culture is celebrated; where our lives matter. Complying to a single dominant culture is oppressive and deadly. The time for change is now. Do whatever is on your power. Now. Learn about racism and how to become an antiracist (see resources section below). Talk with your colleagues. Be critical of your programming and “best practices”. Involve the community. Work in community. Demand change. You have more power than you think. At Nonprofit New York, staff got together to work on a race equity story to signal their commitment to race equity to all of their stakeholders including staff, leadership, board, members, and clients.  I am very proud to have been part of this process.

Finally, stay committed!  What’s going to keep you committed a year from now? 5 years from now? 10 years from now? Identify your motivation and hang tight to it. You are going to need it. This will be a bumpy ride full of disappointment and failure. But it’s worth it. You are worth it. We all are. 

With love and respect,

Aaron Covarrubias

Additional Resources

Photography is provided by Third Curtain Productions and Jay EsPhotography