Voices That Matter

The ASBA “Voices That Matter Campaign” was created to honor voices, emotions and experiences on racial injustice in the United States.
ASBA condemns racism and police brutality against black people. Along with our community, we mourn the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the endless list of black lives lost as a direct result of racism, white supremacy, and systemic oppression.
Black, brown and other underrepresented voices in our schools must be amplified. This campaign is one opportunity to do this and help our staff and members express themselves and heal through these difficult times.

Steve Highlen

ASBA Executive Search & Senior Policy Consultant

Fifty-five years ago this coming August 14th I was working an evening job about 5 miles south of Watts. The Watts riot was on its 4th day and from my job site, I could see the flames and smoke from the burning buildings. This was an eye-opening and unsettling experience. Three years later I had a job working weekends in Compton just a few blocks from the area I had seen burn three years prior. Although the smoke was long gone the atmosphere of the area remained tense.

Two years later I was able to tour the site of the East Los Angeles riots the day after the area was secured. My father had CD security clearance and took me with him to assess the damage to a building that his company-owned. The damage was such that we had to walk partway to the site because the street was littered with debris.

What is most unsettling is not that such instance continue to occur but that we have not been able to solve the root of the problem.