How to talk about race at work
Not sure what to say sometimes?
Read more
With such a far-reaching societal impact in recent years, it’s of little surprise that the conversation about race has made its way into the workplace. Racial discrimination causes pain, inequity, injustice and discomfort, and so these conversations can evoke strong emotions. To feel like we truly belong, it's important that we can see people like ourselves represented in society.
The TV series, Bridgerton made the headlines for the right reasons when it had a diverse cast in a genre traditionally populated by white actors. The production company hired a ‘colourblind’ cast in which people could see themselves reflected on screen. Kathryn Drysdale, who plays the series' enigmatic dressmaker Genevieve Delacroix, said "And, actually, around the Regency era there were black people and people of all other ethnicities living in the country – we weren’t non-existent! I think that’s how you truly connect to your audience and those stories."
But, while these conversations have the potential to become disruptive, if handled sensitively, they prove to be liberating, and help to connect people as they explore lived experiences, understand the historic and current context of race, whilst committing to work towards a fair and equal society together. It’s vital that the conversation is managed effectively, allowing for respectful expression, compassionate listening and shared learning. Tough conversations require openness, bravery, the ability to work through discomfort and to listen and reflect without judgement.
When discussing race it's important to...
Be specific with word choice - instead of you using ‘you people’ be specific who you’re referring to.
Remember others may not want to engage in conversations when you do.
Keep in mind that language is fluid and changes over time.
When something happens in the world that impacts race or ethnicity, it is important to acknowledge these events in the workplace, whether it’s global, national or a local event. Another time to discuss these matters is when something happens at work, speaking up in the moment when you see unacceptable behaviour, we all have a role to play in educating others to help build an inclusive workplace where everyone feels like they belong.
Next
Key terms
Here are some key terms to understand when discussing race:
Anti-black racism
Anti-black racism vs anti-racists
White fragility
BAME
Colour-blind
White privilege/white advantage
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Transcript
How to talk about race at work
Not sure what to say sometimes?
Read more
With such a far-reaching societal impact in recent years, it’s of little surprise that the conversation about race has made its way into the workplace. Racial discrimination causes pain, inequity, injustice and discomfort, and so these conversations can evoke strong emotions. To feel like we truly belong, it's important that we can see people like ourselves represented in society.
The TV series, Bridgerton made the headlines for the right reasons when it had a diverse cast in a genre traditionally populated by white actors. The production company hired a ‘colourblind’ cast in which people could see themselves reflected on screen. Kathryn Drysdale, who plays the series' enigmatic dressmaker Genevieve Delacroix, said "And, actually, around the Regency era there were black people and people of all other ethnicities living in the country – we weren’t non-existent! I think that’s how you truly connect to your audience and those stories."
But, while these conversations have the potential to become disruptive, if handled sensitively, they prove to be liberating, and help to connect people as they explore lived experiences, understand the historic and current context of race, whilst committing to work towards a fair and equal society together. It’s vital that the conversation is managed effectively, allowing for respectful expression, compassionate listening and shared learning. Tough conversations require openness, bravery, the ability to work through discomfort and to listen and reflect without judgement.
When discussing race it's important to...
Be specific with word choice - instead of you using ‘you people’ be specific who you’re referring to.
Remember others may not want to engage in conversations when you do.
Keep in mind that language is fluid and changes over time.
When something happens in the world that impacts race or ethnicity, it is important to acknowledge these events in the workplace, whether it’s global, national or a local event. Another time to discuss these matters is when something happens at work, speaking up in the moment when you see unacceptable behaviour, we all have a role to play in educating others to help build an inclusive workplace where everyone feels like they belong.
Next
Key terms
Here are some key terms to understand when discussing race:
Anti-black racism
Anti-black racism vs anti-racists
White fragility
BAME
Colour-blind
White privilege/white advantage