The Includers: The 7 Traits of Culturally Savvy, Anti-Racist Leaders

This well-meaning if vague debut from Phillips, the CEO of a public relations firm that bears her name, encourages white business, political, and civic leaders to use their authority to promote anti-racist principles. Leaders, Phillips contends, should embrace her “seven Cs”: character, collaboration, commitment, communications (be mindful of what one says and how one says it), connections (foster diverse networks), courage, and cultural intelligence. Underscoring the importance of understanding those from different backgrounds, Phillips suggests that former AT&T CEO Randall L. Stephenson legitimized “the pain his Black friends and employees were feeling” in the wake of 2015 protests in Ferguson, Mo., when he publicly discussed how his conversations with a Black friend helped him realize why “All Lives Matter” is offensive. Unfortunately, many of the other case studies don’t offer practical takeaways. It’s unclear, for instance, how readers are supposed to emulate the example set by Prince Harry leaving the royal family over their racist treatment of Meghan Markle. Phillips also privileges symbolic gestures over substantive policy changes, as when she calls Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau a “Super Includer” for kneeling at a Black Lives Matter protest. This has some sensible ideas, but the details remain fuzzy. Agent: Lorin Rees, Rees Literary. (Jan.)