Facing Racism Head-On: Carrington Legal in the Community & the Executive Suite

The first step is awareness—followed by doing what is possible to facilitate change.

I’ll be the first to admit that I grew up in a utopian bubble.

I grew up in a small town just north of Seattle, back before we had Microsoft, Starbucks, or Amazon. Boeing was the biggest employer. My hometown, the city of Everett, WA, was located on Puget Sound. It was a mostly industrial town, with paper mills, logging, and fishing being some of the primary industries. One of the wealthiest kids in my high school was black—his family owned a group of car dealerships. He drove a Porsche and was one of the most popular kids in school.

I lived in my oblivion that we were all treated equally until I moved to Texas, and my college roommate referred to one of the Houston Oilers with a derogatory term. I told her to stop and that it offended me, and she told me in no uncertain terms that I hadn't lived in the South, and I didn't know what I was talking about. Huh? I still didn't get it.

I moved to New Orleans, and one of my law school classmates, who is black and drove a BMW, told me how he got pulled over all the time for “driving while black.” Go ahead, shake your head; he had to explain it to me. You see, I was living in my bubble: These issues didn’t pertain to me. I thought that because I loved everyone, everyone else did, too.

Then, as a requirement for our Criminal Law class, we had to do a “ride-along” with the New Orleans police. On that outing, I watched the police shakedown young black kids—have them turn their pockets inside out—but over a storm drain. So, all of their money—literally—went down the drain. I witnessed the police threaten to take them to Central Lockup and remind them, “You know, you can get lost in the system down there….” In contrast, the cops told me that I was "welcome to run a red light anytime if I ever felt threatened." My utopian bubble burst.

I share this with you because I am watching, in real-time, many of my friends going about their lives oblivious to or purposely ignoring what is happening around them. I have come to believe that this stems mostly from fear—fear of the unknown, fear of losing power, fear of getting involved in a messy issue and getting burned. Social media has a lot to do with that; those who step forward and attempt to lead or foster change are often the subject of public ridicule. Leading these days is a high-risk maneuver, and our country is suffering for it.

After I came to understand that all people were not treated equally and progressed in my career to advising companies and boards, I became passionate that diverse teams strengthen organizations. I also realized that, from where I sit, I have the ability and a duty to seek out and introduce diverse talent to my clients.

Diversity matters because when we have diverse races, sexes, cultures, and ideas at the table, we can all learn from and seek to understand one another. When we all have a seat at the table and open dialogue, this fosters trust and strengthens organizations and our community.

I’m not living in my bubble anymore. And I don’t pretend to have the answers. But I am alert and willing to do what I can to facilitate change. If we each do what we can, these small changes are like dominos or ripples in a pond—they have a cumulative effect, and we will all be better for it.

Carrie Smith Trabue is the President and CEO of Carrington Legal Search. Over the last 20 years, we have placed hundreds of diverse candidates with companies and law firms nationwide.  Get in touch at 512-627-7467 or carrie@carringtonlegal.com.