“Stop pretending.”
“How did they treat you?”
“No such thing as color blind.”
“Being comfortable being uncomfortable”
These are strong words that capture the essence of a TED talk I want to share with you. Mellody Hobson says that mentioning race is the conversational equivalent of “touching the third rail.” It can feel risky and people don’t know how to respond.
As leaders, Hobson says it is important for us to step bravely into the conversation about racism and discrimination at work. Acknowledging the realities of discrimination and overcoming our fear of talking about it is the first step to creating inclusive workplaces.
Join over 2 million people and take a few minutes to watch and listen to her 2014 TED talk.
It’s hard, but we need to be “color brave, not color blind.”
Todd Thorsgaard
Higher EDge 