In The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Creating Diversity in Your Organization, your new token Black friend, Crystal Byrd Farmer, acts as the bridge between majority white organizations that are dedicated to social justice and affirmative action and the diverse people in community they want to recruit.
MEET THE NEW BLACK FRIEND YOU NEVER HAD
An excellent resource for all those who are committed to equity.
— PAUL KIVEL, author, Uprooting Racism
This is the book that is going to save you from theory and guilt trips.
— AKILAH S. RICHARDS, author, Raising Free People
COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, and organization leaders often ask: How do I get diversity in my group? The thing is, the work is real, but it's a minefield out there.
With a blunt style that pulls no punches, your new token Black friend, Crystal Byrd Farmer, acts as the bridge between majority white organizations and "diverse" people across identities of race, LGBTQ, socioeconomic status, and disability.
Crystal tells you how it is, calling you out on tokenism, while extending a helping hand. Coverage includes:
This provocative, humorous, and accessible guide is for all people leading progressive organizations who acknowledge the need for diversity but don't know where to start.
Honest and unfiltered—a treasure trove of tools, stories, and resources.
— JOE COLE, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
Not sure what The Work is? Don't worry, Crystal Byrd Farmer is here to help.
— CYNTHIA TINA, Co-Director, Foundation for Intentional Community
CRYSTAL BYRD FARMER is an engineer turned educator, organizer, and speaker who focuses on cohousing, Black, and polyamorous communities. She lives in Gastonia, NC.
Meet the new Black friend you never had
As a Black organizer, community, business, and organization leaders often ask: "How do I get diversity in my group?" The thing is, the work is real, but it's a minefield out there. And even progressive leaders can still, perhaps unknowingly, be racist and uphold oppressive systems.
In The Token, your new token Black friend, Crystal Byrd Farmer, acts as the bridge between majority white organizations that are dedicated to social justice and "diverse" people in community they want to recruit, across identities of race, LGBTQ, education, socioeconomic status, and disability.
With a blunt style that pulls no punches, Crystal tells you how it is, calling you out on tokenism, while extending a hand to help your organization make real transformative change toward diversity and inclusion. Coverage includes:
This no-nonsense, provocative, humorous, and accessible guide is for all well-meaning people leading progressive organizations who acknowledge the need for diversity but don't know where to start.