Tag: race
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The Blessing of Disagreement
“Everything just looked blurry!” That’s what I told my mom and my kindergarten teacher. School was frustrating because I couldn’t see what was on the board, even when I sat in the front row and squinted. But, thankfully, things changed when I told others what I saw and that allowed them to help me. After…
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People of Reconciliation
When you hear the term “reconciliation” what comes to mind? In America, “racial reconciliation” can be volatile and is usually hotly discussed, or avoided, depending on the setting. While race is a relatively modern concept (concurrent with the transatlantic slave trade), people have always found reasons to separate from each other. Some of these reasons…
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Let’s Talk Politics!
So I did’t listen. Months after graduating from college and heading out of state for my first professional position, I was given the standard rule. Mentors reminded me, “Don’t discuss politics or religion at work.” But I didn’t heed the advice. As I’m having a casual conversation with a few co-workers, during my first week…
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Stigma Pressure
Can stereotypes be detrimental even if you don’t believe them? In Whistling Vivaldi, Dr. Claude Steele addresses the idea of stigma pressure. Some common stereotypes in America are: These and many other erroneous assumptions have wreaked havoc on our culture and continue to damage relationships. Further, the beliefs and assumptions of the general culture can…
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Healing and Restoration
Message from Sunday June 16, 2024 from Ephesians 4:11-16. The way to successful cross-cultural relationships is through empathy and engagement.
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3 Ways to Disagree Well
Do you feel like this when approaching conflict? Most people deal with conflict through avoidance or hostility. They either: There is a better way to deal with disagreements. Focusing on these three things will shift most of your conflict from hurtful to helpful conversations. 1. Focus on the main goal Conflict happens when coworkers or…
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Unoffendable
As someone that regularly speaks on race and religion (somehow politics seems to sneak its way in too), I often find myself facilitating very polarized arguments. Our society is increasingly embracing the opposite of James 1:19 and instead embracing stubbornness in listening to others, and quickness in getting angry. In the middle of these discussions,…
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3 Ways to Celebrate Black History All Year Long!
In Why Black History Month? I affirmed that: Black History Month is a good thing AND Black history should not be contained to February. Below are three ways to celebrate Black history from March through January: Did you know that Kathairo Solutions (a Black-owned business) leads discussions on topics like the ones highlighted in this…
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Recommendation: Caste
Few books have the ability to educate very deeply on a particular topic, inspire readers to change their perspective, and provide a framework for action. This is especially true regarding the topic of race. Yet, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents accomplishes all of these. Isabel Wilkerson’s experience as a New York Times and Pulitzer…
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Recommendation: Who’s Black and Why?
Who’s Black and Why?: A Hidden Chapter from the Eighteenth-Century Invention of Race is without a doubt one of the most insightful books I’ve ever read. In my post addressing the question What is Race?, I list a few works that have helped form my understanding of race. This book has been quite influential in…
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