In reflecting on August – Advancing Racial Equity as part of the Summer Equity Challenge, I have more questions than answers, and I am coming to terms with several truths that I would like to share with you today. 

1. Truth – When taking in the substance and extent of a challenge on equity, the thought of, ‘how am I going to do this and what exactly is the “this” that I need to do to advance racial equity?’ is overwhelming. 
2. Truth – There is struggle with rationalizing and reconciling where we are, the way we traveled to get here, and how to move forward while building racial stamina, as racial equity is not a destination but a journey. 
3. Truth – There is no silver bullet, no magic wand, and certainly no single solution, answer, or approach to advancing racial equity. Neither is there a single strategy, entity, area, nor sector that can address systemic racism or absolve us. The collective we must own our responsibilities in the role we play and our place in the perpetual system.  
4. Truth –  Advancing racial equity is everyone’s responsibility because racial disparities and inequities impact “the sum of us.”  We, the collective us, are all here, right now, together. 
5. Truth –  Racial inequity and the resulting disparities were seeded in a system of beliefs that sprouted privilege, power, and affected the distribution of resources, which has laid roots for determining those who deserve to have and those who do not.  

In “The Sum of Us”, Heather McGhee shares stories from the mid-20th century when public pools, a resource intended to improve quality of life and status for Americans, were sold to private entities for a dollar. Access to pools was denied to Black people, and then, in many localities, they were drained so that these pools and these communities would not have to be subject to integration.   

These stories, no matter how many times I hear them or read them, have a profound impact on me. The mentality of someone feeling as though they must give up something for someone else to benefit or that to lose is actually to win (Zero Sum Game) causes a sinking pit in my stomach and a rise in my soul. Particularly, the idea shared by those in power that there was an entire race and class of “others” who were either underserving or didn’t belong. And worse, their response to those ideas resulted in those in power choosing to shut down or not provide a public amenity, resource, or access to anyone even if that included those for whom it was established to benefit in the first place.

Why would access to resources be synonymous with winning and losing? In building communities, creating spaces, developing places, if certain parts of a community are prospering why does that mean that other parts of a community cannot or should not? As a matter of public access, is it an incorrect assumption that we all generally want the same things?  

More eloquently stated by McGhee, we all want “nice things” which is essentially good health, a good place to live, access to quality care and education for our children, safety, and security as well as the means to support, sustain, and grow those means for generations to come. Why did and do we still pass down the belief that these are things not everyone wants or deserves? The notion that we should not share space, power, and/or resources is, in a word, stingy.  

“Drained pool politics” drains us all and prevents even those with the power and resources from the enjoyment of “nice things.” Why do it? Why persist in the current system if it costs everyone?  It is exhausting (literally and figuratively); it is inefficient and unproductive. At this point, the impacts and implications are to both the haves and have nots, so doesn’t it stand to reason that the converse could be true, too? 

I don’t have all the answers, but as I continue to think on these truths and questions I am focusing my efforts on the “solidarity dividend” as a practitioner of planning, public administration, and racial equity. One goal is to give rise more directly to how to use privilege and power to re-distribute resources in a way that everyone benefits.  

Recently released 2020 census data shows that, with each passing decade, the country becomes more racially and ethnically diverse. Our demographic makeup is ever changing, tilting and tipping in new and different directions. It is a cue to me to challenge what we believe and raise our collective consciousness to be aware of our unconscious bias of people based on race and class. The next step is to transform those beliefs into actions and decisions that can be implemented in our collective privilege and power.  

McGhee says, “You can’t solve a problem with the consciousness that created it.” This feels like the right next step for me in my journey to advance racial equity. 

Samia Byrd 

Chief Race and Equity Officer at Arlington County 

DEI Steering Committee Co-Chair 

DEI Education & Awareness Sub-Committee Member 

UrbanPlan Committee Member