
The Bar Association of Erie County’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is proud to present our ’21 Day Diversity Learning Challenge’, an educational program that aims to provide invaluable information and context on these issues to our legal community.
Introduction - Why take the challenge?
To say that 2020 was a challenging year would be quite an understatement. Kicking off with a global pandemic and ending with one of the most contentious elections this country has seen would have been quite enough for one nation. Nevertheless, the death of George Floyd ignited an anger and anguish felt by millions and precipitated a cultural reckoning on racial injustice, the likes of which have not been seen in a generation.
American activism became global activism, as thousands of demonstrations and public campaigns were held worldwide. Meanwhile, the eyes of allies turned inward as they made long-awaited reflections on their own communities and internal biases. If we did not yet know, we have now learned, that silent allyship is insufficient – it is simply not enough to not be racist, one must be actively anti-racist. In order to decimate the racially unjust social constructs that have cocooned many of us for so long, such that they may never again be revived, one must actively work towards change and equality.
Where does one start when the issue seems so large and ingrained that one person could not possibly make a difference? They say that “change is the end result of all true learning” and self-education on the topics of racial diversity and injustice is indeed necessary to implement the changes that 2020 has shown us our nation needs.
How the Challenge Works
Following the work of Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. who originated the challenge, participants are provided with various media formats covering a wide range of structural, institutional and cultural aspects of racial diversity and injustice faced by Black Americans, to be consumed over 21 consecutive days. Though we are commencing the Challenge to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you may begin the Challenge at any time. Be sure to sign up using the form below to let us know you’re participating and we encourage all those who complete the program to sign your name at the bottom of this page!
All Are Welcome to Participate!
No matter who you are, or what walk of life you come from, the breadth of information provided as part of our 21 Day Diversity Challenge should leave each participant with demonstrated tools to continue their own self-reflection and education, as well as resources to take and support a more diverse and racially just workplace and community. We hope that this program is both a rewarding and thought-provoking step on your journey.
For those who complete the program in the initial 21 days, we will be hosting a virtual breakout session on Monday February 8, 2021. If you would like to participate, please contact Stephanie McCance at slm@hurwitzfine.com for your invite.
Sign Up
Let us know you’ve begun the challenge!
Begin the Challenge!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
- Article – ‘Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They Are Okay – Chances Are They Are Not’
- Article – ‘A Sociologist Examines The ‘White Fragility’ That Prevents White Americans From Confronting Racism’
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
- Article – ‘Media Portrayals of Black Men Contribute To Police Violence’
- Article – ‘When The Media Misrepresents Black Men, The Effects Are Felt In The Real World’
Day 10
Day 11
- Article – ‘More Than 50% of Homeless Families Are Black’
- Article – ‘The Inheritance of Black Poverty: It’s All About The Men’
Day 12
- Article – ‘Black Art is Dangerous Because it Marries The Personal And The Political’
- Article – ‘Lena Waithe’s Art of Protest’
- Video 6mins – ‘We Cant Recover From This History Until We Deal With It’
Day 13
- Article – ‘Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure Of Black Girl’s Childhood’
- Article – ‘How Black Girls Aren’t Presumed To Be Innocent’
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
- Article – ‘White Gay Privilege Exists All Year, But it Is Particularly Hurtful During Pride’
- Video 4mins – ‘Laverne Cox Talks About Intersectionality at Harvard’
- Video 15mins – ‘Black Trans Lives Matter’
Day 17
Day 18
- Article – ‘4 Questions About Hair That Black Girls Are Tired Of Answering’
- Article – ‘Rep. Ayanna Pressley Reveals Beautiful Bald Head and Discusses Alopecia For the First Time’
- Video 4mins – ‘Hair Love’
Day 19
Day 20
- Documentary – ‘13th’ available on Netflix
Day 21
Completed the Challenge?
Let us know below!
You're Invited!
All finishers of the 21 Day Diversity Challenge are invited to a virtual breakout session on February 8, 2021! Click the button below to RSVP to this event.