The last several months of police brutality, racism, and human rights violations proved one thing: I was still racially numb and observing these persistent atrocities from a safe distance. This is how I pivoted quickly, assembled a group of concerned marketers and leaders and took peaceful action.

In the past 31 years of my career, I have deliberately avoided broadcasting and grandstanding when it came to social and political moments.

Now it’s different. America is burning, both figuratively and literally. Curfews are standard practice. The origin of “curfew” comes from the French word “couvre-feu.” This literally means cover fire.

And as a thought leader, adviser, coach, and the founder of several diverse professional communities, I can no longer cover the fire with politeness and positive thinking.