Charting New Pathways

Charting New Pathways: A Glimpse of The Green Book Journey to Critical Consciousness and Change

Designing Transformational Outcomes

I first became interested in finding different ways to do racism awareness development back in 2017 while I was completing my doctoral studies. First hand experience as both a Black educator and student in teacher education programs had let me see that the most academic settings provided superficial learning experiences and very little that armed teachers with an awareness of their own biases. Because of those experiences and the information that I was gathering for my dissertation, I elected to do an independent study with one of my professors in which I examined the way that anti racism education was operationalized.

Professor Michael Dumas, cites the scarcity of intellectual inquiry and theory being used beyond dialogue as one way that limits our ability to confront and dismantle racial inequities. He also discusses the idea that a process that brings multiple theories and methodologies together into a kind of synergistic action is most likely to offer the promise of increasing critical racial awareness and producing lasting, transformative change in individuals and within organizations. With this in mind, I focused my postdoctoral work for the last several years on gathering information about the processes and practices that were being used in academia and corporate training.

I talked to numerous people about their experiences. Many shared their wish for a way to extend their efforts at racism awareness and critical consciousness beyond the initial stage of activating empathy in a way that helped them delve deeper into interrogating their own lived experiences and the role that they play in shaping who they are today. I continued paying close attention to the theories, methods, research, literature and other aspects that were key to developing a framework around the phenomenon of racism.

As I started to connect the different approaches, significant learning methodologies stood out like signposts of the key points on a map. It felt like I was mapping out a journey that would fill in those gaps in understanding that the individuals I had been speaking with over the past couple of years had stated that they wished they’d had access to. That was the beginning of what would ultimately become The Green Book Journey to Critical Consciousness and Change , a coaching and consulting program that steps away from the norm and creates a unique opportunity for growth. The program provides an experience of deep self-exploration, revitalized critical thinking skills, increased racial awareness and a positive behavior and mindset change.

Charting The Way Forward

The Green Book Journey to Critical Consciousness and Change coaching program takes its inspiration from the historical challenges that AfricanAmerican people faced during the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s when they were traveling through the dangerous and unwelcoming sundown towns of Jim Crow era America. In 1936, Victor Green published the very first edition of The Negro Motorists Green Book, as a way to help Black and other non-white motorists and tourists know which businesses were welcoming to them. During those times, it was common practice for hotels, stores, gas stations and such to turn away Black people and refuse them service. Danger was also a very real threat and therefore, it was crucial for the Black motorist to know where they might find respite. The Green Book was a staple carried by most Black travelers so that they could safely navigate their journey. Businesses listed in The Green Book were largely owned by Black business men and women, but here was also the support of a few white establishments, such as Esso Standard Oil and The YMCA/YWCA which were among those that would serve Black and other non-white patrons.

In considering the need to help individuals learn to navigate these present challenging times, it seems as if there is a need once again, to know which companies are welcoming to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, abilities or other characteristics. Most companies and Educational organizations today continue to assert that they have stated missions that include equality and inclusion, even as they are actively dismantling their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Many of them are seeing the repercussions of their choices reflected in the difficulty in hiring and retaining employees due to their dissatisfaction with how their employer handles equity and inclusion. The Green Book Journey to Critical Consciousness and Change offers business leaders and their teams the opportunity to make their statements and commitments have an equally positive impact. The Green Book Journey coaching program creates a unique learning opportunity to build bridges that can help leaders and their teams help their organizations become committed to equality and demonstrate that they have done the hard work of learning to navigate the world with more determination to bring about racial and social equality and justice. It offers companies a chance to be included among those organizations that can be considered a contemporary Green Book designated organization.

Green Book Journey Framework

Process Consulting is an important part of the Green Book Journey because of its fundamental principles of listening, helping and learning. One of the most powerful aspects of process consulting is that it encourages clients to think critically and begin to develop their own solutions. This is particularly important when dealing with the complex and sensitive area of racism awareness, where there are no one-size-fits-all answers. By helping clients build their capacity to think critically and listen deeply, they become better equipped to navigate these challenges thoughtfully and effectively. Listening, helping and learning are the key principles of process consulting and these attributes form an integral link to the other elements of the program.

At the heart of the Green Book Journey are the core competencies that come from process consulting. 1) The imperative to listen actively and comprehensively. 2) Listening with the attempt to understand the concept and context of the things we encounter. 3) Listening architecturally, which means listening to your inner guide so that you are clear about what it is that you are willing to do, as well as what you need to do to attain the greatest capacity for growth and development. 4) Listening adaptively so as to foster the ability to change.

The Green Book Journey operates with the understanding that multiple approaches used collectively can help to provide a greater perspective of the complexities that are a significant element for developing racism awareness. The journey to greater critical consciousness is complex and does not follow a singular trajectory, which is why the Green Book Journey framework offers flexibility even as it provides structure in the learning and discovery process.

A Glimpse of The Green Book Journey

What would a Green Book Journey experience look like? Here is a quick overview: 

• Packing for the Journey: When we hear people talk about their efforts to build critical racial awareness, they often speak of it in terms of unpacking the information. The Green Book Journey takes the stance that before unpacking, you must first pack your bags. This experience takes you through the practice of packing as a starting point. By knowing what is in your own baggage from the beginning, you are more likely to be better prepared for the things you encounter along the way. A good thought to bear in mind is that we pack before a journey and unpack at certain intervals along the way and at the journey’s end.

• Checking in at the Station: Starting the journey with the right mindset is important to being able to sustain yourself as you move through the different stops along the way. Here, you check your itinerary so that you are clear about where you are going. You’ll get introduced to some of the key components that are important for you to have as you begin to navigate the pathways. Assessing your readiness is an important step to complete, so that you know what to expect as you go from place to place.

• Building Capacity: Engaging in a consistent practice of self-regulation is paramount to initiating personal change. Having the stamina to stay the course on this journey calls for actively working to combat entrenched societal inequalities and fostering social cohesion. We cannot correct that which we are not willing to see and address. By equipping ourselves with the knowledge and skills needed in order to identify and address racism, we begin to promote a culture of accountability and mutual respect. A process of ongoing education and reflection helps dismantle prejudiced attitudes and systemic barriers, and paves the way for a more just and inclusive society where everyone can thrive.

• Going Beyond Empathy: Empathy is often positioned as the goal of many anti-racism programs, although it is really just the starting point. Empathy requires tangible action and sustained efforts, it also demands a commitment to ongoing education and actively seeking to understand the roots of inequalities. One of the ways that participants in the Green Book Journey extend their experiences with gaining racial empathy is through   learning to use the Positive Intelligence (PQ). This is an operating system that works to enhance mental fitness and helps individuals become more resilient, adaptable and capable of looking beyond negative thoughts that can lead to biases.

• The Heuristic Researcher in You: One of the most important elements of the Green Book Journey is engaging in a very personalized exploration of the naturally occurring events in one’s life. In the module for heuristics, participants will become the subject of their own investigation, so as to gain better self-understanding, while concentrating on individual consciousness and the objects that are part of one’s personal lived experiences. The one imperative of heuristic inquiry is that it must stem from a problem that is connected to a personal challenge or puzzlement that the individual is attempting to understand about either themselves or the world in which they live. You can read about my exploration of heuristic inquiry here. 

• Speculating the Future: Learning to see past the limits of the present situation or experience is what this practice is all about. One of the things that restricts the ability to move forward is the fact that too often, remaining rigid in our views stands in the way of making change. Speculative methods offer a way to begin looking past limitations, and they strengthen the ability to step outside of norms when confronted with the challenges that often stifle efforts at equality. By embracing this method it is possible to increase the likelihood of finding new pathways toward transformative racism awareness and growth.

An article I wrote on speculative methods provides a concise description of a method that describes its basic functions.

Throughout the process of creating The Green Book Journey to Critical Consciousness and Change, the understanding that as a process consultant, my intention should always be to walk alongside my clients remained at the forefront. Practicing the approaches of process consulting has greatly enhanced the way that I coach leaders and their teams as they navigate their way to increasing their awareness and personal growth. Visit our website to learn more about how you can bring The Green Book Journey coaching program to your organization.

Short Bio:
Dr. Trudi L. Perkins is a scholar-activist, critical consciousness and racism awareness development coach and researcher. She is the founder and CEO of Momentum Enterprises, which partners with organizations across all industries to facilitate equitable solutions to today’s most challenging issues. Dr. Trudi is the developer of The Green Book for Critical Consciousness and Change coaching program. For the past decade, Dr. Perkins has explored how the use of creative speculative frameworks and emergent strategies can play a crucial role in influencing social change in both academic and professional settings.

If you'd like to write a blog post for the Society for Process Consulting, please e-mail Lon L. Swartzentruber at lons@designgroupintl.com.