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I’m Not Racist…Or Am I? The Answer Might Be Yes.
Ever been told you were racist? I have – or in reality, I was confronted about the racist impact of something I did – which FELT like they called me racist! That was one of the worst things I could ever imagine happening to me – especially from a person of color who was a colleague at the time. It was so traumatic an experience that I spent three very painful years in a dysfunctional pool of shame, fear and self-recrimination. I created my own isolation, yet there were people around me who would have helped me, if I had only reached out and chosen the path of courage and…
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As a White Person, How Do You Reconcile Teaching About Racial Justice?
What We Think We Are, We Oftentimes Are Not… Yeah, I get it. Years ago, I believed that the worst thing that could happen to me was to be labeled a racist by a person of color. But guess what? It happened. Me! The person who I thought was committed to making a difference in my life and others by teaching about diversity. My illusion was shattered by an early experience where I had been asked to try out my capacity as a leader for a new position. Two people of color confronted me regarding some of my behaviors they felt were racist. Me? No way! I disagreed – but…
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5 Conversation Starters to Help a Leader Buy-In to Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace
Creating a more inclusive work environment Q: What can you do if you are asked by your boss to create a more inclusive environment in your workplace, and while your boss is supportive, they just don’t fully buy in and don’t model the behaviors consistent with the environment that you’re trying to create? A: This is an ongoing conversation for future webinars, virtual institutes, and my Master Class for Inclusion Practitioners. Click here to learn more about this program and watch my events page to see what’s coming up next. Diversity in the workplace is paramount Have you been asked by a superior to organize a diversity initiative only to…
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Interrupt Racism, The White Way Is Not The Only Way
As we grew up, most of us didn’t realize we were being educated to believe white is right. I was socialized as a college administrator in predominantly white organizations that reinforced white cultural practices as the right way – the only way – to serve students. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees – I told myself I wasn’t racist! I didn’t realize I was perpetuating the very system I was fighting against. It never occurred to me that the dances I coordinated or the training I designed and facilitated did not address the needs and issues of students of color. I simply perpetuated ideas and approaches that privileged whites had…
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Interrupt Racism to Build Greater Equity
Simply mentioning the word ‘racism’ can create an instant human reaction with three familiar responses: freeze, fight, or flee. Observing those responses among those who have not had the opportunity to learn about racism and how to effectively dissolve it would be understandable. However, those who recognize racism and are trained to interrupt it can feel deeply impacted and defensive when they are called out for their racist by a person of color. They feel the all-too-familiar wrench in the gut. They’re devastated. I know. I’ve been there. Early on in my career, I had to face the truth about the impact of my racist actions and live with the…
