From community development and housing, to a career urban planner; to a Deputy County Manager, to now a Chief Race and Equity Officer. Chief Race and Equity Officer, the title alone would make you to believe that I am THE authority, the expert on race and equity. AM I?

As a black woman as Chief Race and Equity Officer, I’m either viewed as a token or the expert, the fixer who absolves everyone of playing a role in being part of the solution or the check box to say we have responded to what everyone believes this pivotal moment calls for. I am neither. I will be defined, analyzed, questioned and criticized. I will be pressured, pushed, strongly encouraged, solicited and exalted. I approach this role knowing all of this, that it will be hard, incremental, lonely, compelling, and at times down right messy and ugly work. How? Why? Because I know who I am and why I am here. I am not your title. Called to be a faithful servant leader, I am purposed to encourage and inspire. And it just so happens that in this season the space in which I am walking it out is in the area of race and equity.

Operate in balance and peace in quiet strength yet conviction and challenge of principle and belief. Lead with humility and grace for myself and others. Lead knowing that I am not in charge or command or in position to control but in place to influence. And people are watching and listening to the things I say, do and don’t do. I am mindful of how I use myself and I am used.

I check myself, my privilege and instead of letting others define me I am purposeful to be certain that I understand the allowances made for me at the expense of someone else. I take nothing and no one for granted and pursue this role with humility and grace.

I am the exception and not the norm. I am rooted and grounded because in my new role, that’s exactly who and how I need to be. Focused, determined, encouraged, standing in my convictions and beliefs. And so, I ask you, do you know who you are and what you believe? What do you believe about racism, gender identify, sexual orientation, ableism, sexism, classism, ageism? How do you show up at work in value and belief? What role do you play in the system? Do you defend or perpetuate it because of ignorance or lack of knowledge, silence? Do you promote it because you have power and authority, benefit from it and so don’t want it to change? Are you burdened by it not able to advance or move because of the color of your skin, powerless?

Why am I here? Because two years ago I told the County Manager that I was the only person in a senior leadership position in his office that looked like me! Because I often sat and sit in a meeting or in a room with white males and a few white women at times, engaged but alone and lonely. And regularly wondering and questioning to myself why.

Are we ready to ask why, to point out the obvious or call racism out, to even say the word no matter how uncomfortable? Are we ready to let go of privilege and comfort to enable and empower others to enjoy what we know and enjoy knowing that even if they do, we will still have what we already have, too?

What are we contributing every day in the system within which we all operate?

What do we do? What can we do? Resolve to do the work from within that looks at every system and asks why and how it is being sustained. When you are in the Board Room, the class room, the meeting, the office, the community, engaging and interacting that you are aware enough, you enter in knowing who you are and what you believe and you constantly ask why, checking your privilege every step of the way. And when you can answer the why, then you can strategize on how. Educate yourself about yourself and then anyone and everyone else that is different than you by getting to know them and not by studying them as though they are an object or an it.  Consider whether and where you are empowered at the expense of someone who is not, and act or do something because you can, to shift the power dynamic so it is balanced.

So in my new role, I ask, are you ready to lead from within your sphere of influence? Will you still be here doing the hard work when race and racism, equity are no longer THE thing to do or talk about?

My new role, you may view it as a title, but I view it as an opportunity to be a leader, convener, an organizer, and coordinator. Leading others to believe and understand their role and part in advancing race and equity and then to think through how they will do that and what that means for them as an employee, a resident, a business, a visitor or leader.

“Racism has been a matter of urgency for more than 400 Years. It won’t be solved because in this moment we are acutely aware, but because we are chronically persistent and persevere in our approach to dismantle it at the root no matter how tiring or uncomfortable.” Samia Byrd

Samia Byrd,
Chief Race and Equity Officer, Arlington County Government
Member, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
Member, UrbanPlan

In ULI Washington’s new Leadership Insights column, ULI Washington will regularly feature member leader’s thoughts and insights as we adjust personally and professional to a “new normal.”