Last week, because of the mass shooting in Buffalo, we offered Listening/Sharing sessions for the employees of our US clients. These are meant as safer spaces for people to share and process the impact of such a traumatic event together. Because it was a racially motivated hate crime, we created …
African American
Musings about Black Panther
Of course I saw Black Panther this past week. Here are a few thoughts. I left the cinema feeling proud. Like the melanin in my skin was an opportunity. I wondered why the person who technically saved the world was a white dude. One of the few in the movie. Really?! Wesley Snipes could …
Why I Hate Black History Month – part 4
I have an issue with Black History Month. I have written about how everything Black happens in February and is forgotten for the rest of the year. I have written about “firsts” and what they say about how far we have (and haven’t) come. And last year I wrote about the lessons we could learn …
Judge Eidsvik’s comments about “dark people”
Judge Kristine Eidsvik told her class at the University of Calgary that she was uncomfortable walking into a room "full of big dark people." If you haven’t read the brief article in the Toronto Star, you can read it here. Sigh. Welcome to 2018. This type of comment isn’t surprising or …
[Continue reading] Judge Eidsvik’s comments about “dark people”
Taking a Knee… and what created the movement
I was really busy with a project this past week, so this weekend was my first chance to catch up on the Take a Knee movement. I’m intrigued by the history as well as what it has become. You can read about it and watch the video here. Taking a Knee Here's a rudimentary synopsis: Colin Kaepernick …
[Continue reading] Taking a Knee… and what created the movement
Serena Williams; Responding to Racism
Serena Williams was confronted with (and responded to) racism through social media. You can read all about it here. The subtlety of racism Racism is often subtle. And as such it comes out of people’s mouths in ways that we often don’t catch: “You’re not really Black.” “I hope the baby doesn’t …
Seeing Ourselves in Media Matters
A TV Commercial Yesterday I saw a commercial on TV that made me smile. Picture this: It starts with a close up of little feet running through mud, and into the house. At which point we see that the little girl (4 years old? 5?) – complete with skirt and crown - is chasing a frog. Around the …
Silence = Complicity
Many of you are likely familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote: “There comes a time when silence becomes betrayal.” I would argue that time has nothing to do with it. Silence equals betrayal anytime – whether we realize it or not, whether we are alone or in a group – because it equals …
The Oscars – not so White?
After the public spotlight on race in the last two years, it’s nice to see some melanin in the Oscar winner lineup in 2017. Just to be clear, I didn’t watch, but I see that Moonlight won Best Picture, Viola Davis won for Best Supporting actress and Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actor …
Black History Month – further Colonization?
Two weeks ago, I wrote about why we don’t talk about Black present or future, and mused about whether we are helping all people to learn from Black History when we talk and teach about it. A few things have happened since then that I need to share: Musings on Black History from 4- and …
[Continue reading] Black History Month – further Colonization?