Talking About Race
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
I have spoken with countless organizations on how to talk about race in the workplace and this is almost always the first question I get. Here’s what I say.
What is the wrong thing you are worried about saying? How will you know you said the wrong thing? Who is the person who told you it was the wrong thing to say? Was it the offended person? Was that person junior to you? Did they report you? Did they keep the hurt to themselves? Did you have a conversation with them? Were they forced to relive their pain to educate you?
Let’s get away from the idea that saying the wrong thing is most hurtful to the offender and not the person offended. Let’s get away from the idea that the person offended has all the power rather than the person doing the offending.
You will say the wrong thing. You will hurt someone else. Accept it. Apologize for it. Learn why it was wrong. Don’t do it again. Tell your friends, family, and work colleagues the same. Then do the hard work of using your power and privilege to build proper reporting mechanisms for racism, along with a community not centered on denial, inaction, and deflection, but instead one centered on inquiry, vulnerability, and humility. That’s the work of change.
Do the work
This week, I commit to listening to how the language I use can hurt others. I commit to speaking up when I witness others using hurtful language. I commit to the work of change.
Spread the word
Have You Seen "The Look"? Have You Experienced It?
Ask yourself why these assumptions are being made about the man in this video. What should he do about it - call them out, laugh about it, get angry, get frustrated, talk to the person doing it, ignore it? What would you do if you were him? What would you do if you saw someone else doing it?
If you want to keep going
Let's build a workplace where belonging matters and
microaggressions are stopped for good.
