Review of Until You Walk in My Shoes
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Review of Until You Walk in My Shoes
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Until You Walk in My Shoes" by Dr. Frank L. Douglas.]
Unfortunately, systemic discrimination is still a major issue today. In 2020, many people were shocked by the video showing George Floyd struggling to breathe, which led to his death. To some, it was the most horrific scene, while to others, it was just an incident that had gone wrong, with various other issues offered in an attempt to justify the death. In addition to other motivations, this incident has contributed greatly to the book Until You Walk in My Shoes: A Reframing Methodology to Overcome Systemic Discrimination by Dr. Frank L. Douglas. From the start, the reader can understand why the title is what it is—Until You Walk in My Shoes. For some, what is being reported as acts of racial bigotry and systemic discrimination are simply seen as experiences that everyone goes through. Indeed, Dr. Frank presents an incident he personally faced and his conversation with a friend about it.
Discrimination is manifested in various ways in the book, and the descriptions are vivid, creating mental images in the reader’s mind. The debate is not really about whether systemic discrimination is an issue but rather about what is being done about it and whether everyone perceives it. Indeed, the author states, "This is the phenomenal tragedy of systemic discrimination. It is not that good people do nothing. It is that good people feel nothing!" But even for those who take action, is the right problem being addressed? Is the aggrieved individual being empowered? It is here that Dr. Frank introduces the concept of the Safe Haven Dialogues Reframing Process, in which one of the critical issues is ‘Finding the Better Problem to Solve.’
Through various case studies and real-life experiences of aggrieved individuals, the author demonstrates the importance of finding realistic solutions. The case studies show how to find a better problem to solve through five steps. I appreciated that each case study started with a description of the desired outcome, and after analyzing the situation, the final step was Reframing. The case study I liked the most was the fourteenth, that of VM, who was working for an international company. After years with no prospects for progression or assignments outside the United States, and after receiving empty promises, he decided to interview with other international companies and received a job offer from one of them. After announcing this to his boss, the company made a counteroffer. VM declined this and accepted the job offer from the new company. I admired his firm resolve. There are other case studies that readers will find inspirational and informative.
Until You Walk in My Shoes: A Reframing Methodology to Overcome Systemic Discrimination is an amazing book, not only for examining the issue of systemic discrimination and its manifestations but also for its focus on the effects of discrimination. The most important aspect, however, is the empowerment of the aggrieved individual and reframing the problem to find a better problem to solve. Additionally, readers will enjoy learning about the four quadrants of the Equity-Inclusion Culture Matrix. However, the diagrams illustrating the Equity-Inclusion Culture Matrix could be enhanced to make them more visually appealing. Because of this, I rate the book four out of five stars. It deserves no lower rating, as apart from the issues mentioned and a few minor errors I encountered while reading, there is nothing I disliked about the book. I hope this book will become a key component in addressing systemic discrimination everywhere.
******
Until You Walk in My Shoes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Unfortunately, systemic discrimination is still a major issue today. In 2020, many people were shocked by the video showing George Floyd struggling to breathe, which led to his death. To some, it was the most horrific scene, while to others, it was just an incident that had gone wrong, with various other issues offered in an attempt to justify the death. In addition to other motivations, this incident has contributed greatly to the book Until You Walk in My Shoes: A Reframing Methodology to Overcome Systemic Discrimination by Dr. Frank L. Douglas. From the start, the reader can understand why the title is what it is—Until You Walk in My Shoes. For some, what is being reported as acts of racial bigotry and systemic discrimination are simply seen as experiences that everyone goes through. Indeed, Dr. Frank presents an incident he personally faced and his conversation with a friend about it.
Discrimination is manifested in various ways in the book, and the descriptions are vivid, creating mental images in the reader’s mind. The debate is not really about whether systemic discrimination is an issue but rather about what is being done about it and whether everyone perceives it. Indeed, the author states, "This is the phenomenal tragedy of systemic discrimination. It is not that good people do nothing. It is that good people feel nothing!" But even for those who take action, is the right problem being addressed? Is the aggrieved individual being empowered? It is here that Dr. Frank introduces the concept of the Safe Haven Dialogues Reframing Process, in which one of the critical issues is ‘Finding the Better Problem to Solve.’
Through various case studies and real-life experiences of aggrieved individuals, the author demonstrates the importance of finding realistic solutions. The case studies show how to find a better problem to solve through five steps. I appreciated that each case study started with a description of the desired outcome, and after analyzing the situation, the final step was Reframing. The case study I liked the most was the fourteenth, that of VM, who was working for an international company. After years with no prospects for progression or assignments outside the United States, and after receiving empty promises, he decided to interview with other international companies and received a job offer from one of them. After announcing this to his boss, the company made a counteroffer. VM declined this and accepted the job offer from the new company. I admired his firm resolve. There are other case studies that readers will find inspirational and informative.
Until You Walk in My Shoes: A Reframing Methodology to Overcome Systemic Discrimination is an amazing book, not only for examining the issue of systemic discrimination and its manifestations but also for its focus on the effects of discrimination. The most important aspect, however, is the empowerment of the aggrieved individual and reframing the problem to find a better problem to solve. Additionally, readers will enjoy learning about the four quadrants of the Equity-Inclusion Culture Matrix. However, the diagrams illustrating the Equity-Inclusion Culture Matrix could be enhanced to make them more visually appealing. Because of this, I rate the book four out of five stars. It deserves no lower rating, as apart from the issues mentioned and a few minor errors I encountered while reading, there is nothing I disliked about the book. I hope this book will become a key component in addressing systemic discrimination everywhere.
******
Until You Walk in My Shoes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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