Chapter 16: The Racially Conscious Accountant

When thinking of a racial accountant, it seems to be a contradiction in terms. Time and again, the accounting profession presents itself as value free, devoid of feeling, removed from bias – a trusted if not dull arbiter of business information (Lewis, 2015). The message is that race and racism have no place in the hallowed halls of accounting. Unfortunately, this tale does not fit the facts as presented by Critical Race Theory (CRT) academics, Race Critical accounting scholars, and the AICPA's own difficult figures relating to low Black and Brown participation (AICPA, 2019).¹ But can more be done? The answer is yes. Accountants can alleviate the situation by developing a critical racial awareness, one that leads to action. This chapter is a call for a Racially Conscious Accountant, an individual the profession sorely needs. This chapter investigates what can be done to encourage active anti-racism in this number-crunching field.