Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace by Janice Gassam Asare Summary

Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace by Janice Gassam Asare examines how systemic white-centric norms perpetuate inequality in corporate spaces. It offers actionable strategies to identify and dismantle policies like exclusionary dress codes or holiday schedules, while providing frameworks for building anti-racist organizational cultures. The book emphasizes collective accountability, urging leaders to confront unconscious biases and redesign systems that prioritize whiteness.

This book is essential for DEI practitioners, HR professionals, executives, and employees seeking to drive racial equity. It equips readers with tools to audit workplace practices, challenge white-centric norms, and implement inclusive policies. Dr. Gassam Asare’s insights are particularly valuable for organizations committed to moving beyond performative diversity efforts.

Yes—ranked as an Amazon bestseller and endorsed by experts like Minda Harts, the book provides concrete solutions for stagnating DEI initiatives. Its blend of academic rigor (drawing on Dr. Gassam Asare’s PhD in Organizational Psychology) and real-world case studies makes it a practical guide for systemic change.

Dr. Gassam Asare holds a PhD in Organizational Psychology, founded the award-winning BWG Business Solutions consultancy, and has collaborated with Google, Yale, and Amazon. As a Forbes senior contributor and LinkedIn Top Voice in Racial Equity, she combines research with 12+ years of hands-on DEI experience.

Key ideas include:

• White-centering: How workplace norms unconsciously prioritize white cultural standards.
• Policy audits: Identifying bias in bereavement leave, dress codes, and promotion criteria.
• Self-decentering: Tools for individuals to recognize and challenge internalized whiteness.
• Systemic interventions: Restructuring hiring, feedback processes, and leadership pipelines.

Unlike Dirty Diversity (broad workplace equity) or The Pink Elephant (inclusive organizations), this book specifically tackles whiteness as a systemic barrier. It offers a direct analysis of power dynamics and anti-Blackness, with step-by-step guidance for organizational transformation.

• Conduct equity audits of existing policies.
• Revise evaluation metrics to reduce bias.
• Normalize feedback loops from marginalized employees.
• Redesign mentorship programs to center BIPOC voices.
• Implement accountability measures for DEI goals.

Dr. Gassam Asare acknowledges fears about “reverse racism” accusations and provides scripts for navigating pushback. She argues that decentering whiteness benefits all employees by creating psychologically safer environments, citing examples like flexible religious accommodations.

Some readers note the book assumes organizational buy-in, which may overlook challenges in resistant cultures. Others praise its unflinching approach but highlight the emotional labor required from marginalized employees to implement its strategies.

Layla F. Saad, author of Me and White Supremacy, writes the foreword, framing the text as a critical next step in anti-racism work. Her endorsement underscores the book’s alignment with broader movements to dismantle systemic oppression.

Despite increased DEI pledges after George Floyd’s murder, many initiatives remain superficial. The book addresses this stagnation, offering updated frameworks for sustaining long-term change in increasingly diverse workforces.

• Challenge default assumptions in meetings (“Does this policy center white comfort?”).
• Advocate for inclusive holiday calendars.
• Support ERG-led initiatives without tokenization.
• Use the included reflection exercises to identify personal biases.