From Jester to Royal Counsel

What is a jester? Well, the royals of years past did not have social media for company and the internet for exploration.

The jester was appointed to entertain.

(S)he, often, was in the presence of the royals merely for entertainment -- and not a part of the counsel to the highest echelons of power.

In the United States, we do not have royals, but we do have senior courts of counsel in public administration: the proverbial "Table" where decisions are made affecting citizens of every hue, economic stratum, ability and orientation.

Within this framework, all too often there is a single person of color. The question becomes, "What role does that person play?"

Recently, a young woman of color who I mentor reached out to me to describe an oft-heard challenge -- and one of the reasons that B-WISE, LLC was created.

A senior executive of color at her agency was aloof and unresponsive to inquests to meet with her about her journey, according to the eager young woman I mentor.

The young woman I mentor, we will call her Meaghan, is a Millenial at the cusp of great things in her career.

She is ambitious, smart, hard-working, and a chairperson of an important committee in a prominent professional public administration organization.

Meaghan wants to know more about navigating the new agency she recently joined with proximal senior-ish position.

It is reasonable to want to learn more about the culture, values and informal protocols, especially as a newbie.

Meaghan is flustered and hurt that this woman, we will call her Tess, one of the only senior staff at the agency of color, is unresponsive -- aloof, even.

Here, I see a jester in action, in that the senior person has adopted the insulatory approach of ordainment.

What Tess fails to realize is that alone at the Table, she is limiting her voice and impact.

Yes, the senior executive is likely busy. However, a 20-minute informal discussion or a half-hour lunch break to get to know a promising person of color, share some insight (and possibly establish a mentoring relationship), could one day yield a coalition for the court that foments more meaningful engagement at the "Table."

It is not enough to be The One at the Table. It is not enough to simply arrive at a leader status, without cultivating others.

Looking to the ancestors, we find a corollary:

Harriett Tubman used her grit and determination to achieve freedom for herself. But she was not satisfied with simply speaking out as an abolitionist and settling into her new life.

Ms. Tubman knew the importance of many voices. She could not rest in being the live voice of Harriet Beecher-Stowe's book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' In her own words,

"I've heard "Uncle Tom's Cabin' read and I can tell you, Mrs. Stowe's pen can't begin to paint what I've seen...."

So, Ms. Tubman kept reaching back, going back into the depths, to bring others with her.

When we women of color reach the Table, remember that without reaching back, we run the risk of being the jester that has nothing to do with our skills or grit.

We cannot rest in our presence alone.

In order to have true impact, it is important to build and shore up others, so that a cacophony of voices inform the policies, actions and deeds determined at the Table.

We are our Sister's keeper!