Kindness-informed allyship praxis

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-06-2021-0145
• Published date: 09 January 2023
• Date: 09 January 2023
• Pages: 1-15
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity,equality,inclusion
• Author: Kristin S. Williams,Heidi Weigand,Sophia Okoroafor,Giuseppe Liuzzo,Erica Ganuelas Weigand

Kindness-informed allyship praxis

Kristin S. Williams

Department of Innovation Management, University of Eastern Finland,

Kuopio, Finland and

Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

Heidi Weigand

Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

Sophia Okoroafor

Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada

Giuseppe Liuzzo

Munich Business School, Munchen, Germany, and

Erica Ganuelas Weigand

Marbella University, Marbella, Spain

Abstract

Purpose –This paper explores intergenerational perceptions of kindness in the context of Black Lives Matter

(BLM) movement and the COVID-19 global pandemic. The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate

perceptions of kindness in the context of traumatic events and its potential value in authentic allyship in

organizational environments.

Design/methodology/approach –Authors interviewed 65 individuals (31 self-identifying as non-racialized

and 34 self-identifyingas Black, Indigenous and People of Colour aka BIPOC). Participants included Generation

Z (Gen Z; born between 1997–2012/5) and Generation Y (Gen Y; also referred to as Millennials, born between

1981 and 1994/6) across North American, Europe and Africa. Millennials currently represent the largest

generation in the workplace and are taking on leadership roles, whereas Gen Z are emerging entrants into the

workplace and new organizational actors.

Findings –The paper offers insights into how to talk about BLM in organizations, how to engage in authentic

vs performative allyship and how to support BIPOC in the workplace. The study also reveals the durability of

systemic racism in generations that may be otherwise considered more enlightened and progressive.

Research limitations/implications –The authors expand on kindness literature and contribute

theoretically and methodologically to critical race theory and intertextual analysis in race scholarship.

Practical implications –The study contributes to the understanding of how pro-social behaviours like

kindness (with intention) can contribute to a more inclusive discourse on racism and authentic allyship.

Originality/value –Authors reveal the potential for kindness as a pro-social behaviour in organizational

environments to inform authentic allyship praxis.

Keywords Kindness, Millennials, Generation Z, COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, Allyship

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

When we conceived of this paper, we were at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and long

exhausted by isolation, continuous lockdowns and fear for ourselves and our families. At the

same time, the #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement had been reignited by the murder of

George Floyd in Chicago by Derek Chauvin, a police officer with the Minneapolis Police

Department. At the nexus of these two world-changing events, our thoughts turned to how

Kindness-

informed

allyship praxis

1

© Kristin S. Williams, Heidi Weigand, Sophia Okoroafor, Giuseppe Liuzzo and Erica Ganuelas Weigand.

Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons

Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works

of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the

original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.

org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2040-7149.htm

Received 5 June 2021

Revised 6 January 2022

Accepted 15 December 2022

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 42 No. 9, 2023

pp. 1-15

Emerald Publishing Limited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-06-2021-0145