He Said, She Said: Perspectives on Daily Living in Black and White, Lucky Church

How many levels of judgment do you experience before you even speak? Starting with a visit to the doctor’s office,  Lucky and Deanna share their honest perspectives on daily living in the US, as a Black man and a White woman. Who is Lucky Church? Lucky is a Partner/PR Director at SMF Global and Director of Client Relations…

What Stands Between Us, Diversity Conversation Flash Cards

How many levels of judgment do you experience before you even speak? Starting with a visit to the doctor’s office, Lucky and Deanna share their honest perspectives on daily living in the US, as a Black man and a White woman. Lucky and Deanna will ask each other questions and share personal experiences, and also…

Urban Antrhopology, Cultural Tourism and Discovering ‘Americana’

Dave Barry was always able to just take vacation and run old columns.  For me, I’m entering a new world that is based in economic disparity and developmental disabilities–absolutely at the top of the engagement and inclusion/social exclusion list, but new territory that hasn’t quite gelled.  So in the meantime, I’m periodically re-running posts that…

Hey Frank DeFord: Violence Against Women is Not a USAmerican Majority Value

Dear Frank DeFord, meet your new friend, Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, accused of raping a 16-year-old girl.  Perhaps he knows your other friend Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, accused of sexually assaulting a 20 year-old girl, who you defended as just “boys being boys” in your editorial on NPR last week. Okay,…

Swapping Races to Reveal Unconscious Bias and Privilege

  I need to go take a shower. I just caught myself talking to my husband’s kindly Indian colleague over the phone like he was an idiot, plus I read this article by Tim Wise “Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black,” and realized I am guilty. (This is a must read!) One, because looking…

Assume Good Intentions in Cross-Cultural Communications? Sometimes Impossible

My colleague was conducting a training during a “train the trainer” session this week on Intent and Impact, the idea being that in communications, sometimes our Intent does not equal the Impact we intended.  For example: “That sweater you’re wearing is really interesting” (intended as compliment).  Unexpected impact:  “You hate it don’t you?” (Spontaneous reaction: …