Silence is laden when it comes to race and leadership. We believe it is critical to reclaim the kind of silence that supports conscious transformation. Our contribution in this endeavor is twofold. Firstly, we distinguish between fear-based silence and sacred silence. Fear-based silence can be a running away from discomfort, a covering up of trepidation and anxiety. It can lead to collective amnesia and willful ignorance, a hoarding of status, privilege, and power, and forge deep divides between people. This is the world of masks and performativity, and at its worst harbors prejudice, hate, and destruction. Leadership tolerant of fear-based silence permits a festering of racism. Sacred silence by contrast heals and raises consciousness. For the kind of leadership required to consistently and indefatigably push for change and disruption to racism, we need a practice of sacred silence. Sacred silence cultivates the courage to look fearlessly within personal shadows and bravely at what is required to make the world a safe, secure, and just place for all. Secondly, we present four themes that emerged from our reflexive inquiry into race, leadership, and silence: listening dialogue, returning to Mother Earth wisdom, honoring potential, and practicing mindfulness in a context of collective wisdom.

当涉及种族和领导能力时，沉默会充满。我们认为，至关重要的是要恢复支持有意识转变的那种沉默。我们在这项工作中的贡献是双重的。首先，我们区分基于恐惧的沉默和神圣的沉默。基于恐惧的沉默可以摆脱不适，掩盖恐惧和焦虑。它可能导致集体失忆和故意的无知，a积地位，特权和权力，并在人与人之间造成深层分歧。这是一个充满面具和功能的世界，最糟糕的情况是怀有偏见，仇恨和破坏。领导层容忍基于恐惧的沉默会导致种族主义的恶化。相比之下，神圣的沉默可以治愈并提高意识。对于持续不断地推动变革和破坏种族主义所需的那种领导，我们需要神圣的沉默。神圣的沉默会鼓起勇气，勇敢地在个人的阴影下无畏地注视着，勇敢地看待使世界成为所有人的安全，稳定和公正的地方所需要的东西。其次，我们提出了四个主题，这些主题来自我们对种族，领导力和沉默的反思性思考：倾听对话，回归大地母亲的智慧，尊重潜力以及在集体智慧的背景下练习正念。