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June 25, 2010

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Rosetta Thurman

Thank you Albert, for continuing to write so brilliantly about race and its implications for the work of social change. Many conversations about the far less scary topic of diversity were met with fatigue post-Obama's election, and I still get questions of why we still need to talk about race. The research is there and always has been there, but it gives us something to point to - so that we can prove we're not making this up. Even though the real conversation we need to have is way beyond what's in any research report.

Albert

Thanks, Rosetta. Much appreciated.

Antoine Möeller

This was a nice moment, a little more than two years ago.

A More Perfect Union

Like an ember that leaped to flame for a moment and subsided. A big opportunity lost.

...The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through, a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American...
-BO, 2008
Example: A TV news sound bite is too little time to explain structural bias to a general audience; an op-ed, public hearing, or speech may provide a better opportunity to do so. By contrast, a TV press event can be a good place to show the racial diversity of our nation through visuals, backdrops, and spokespeople.
-OpportunityAgenda.com, 2010
Melissa Mendes Campos

I think it speaks volumes that such thoughtful and insightful observations on race are so few and far between, particularly in the social sector – and that’s a sad story for all of us. I do think the fatigue you acknowledge is real, but of course now is no time for us to give up on the dialogue or look away. Your post challenges us not to do that, and it offers hope. Thank you for being a voice and making a space (more are needed!) to “see” race in this vital way.

A careless reader

"We can change unfair policies, for example, but how do we shift attitudes and habits of mind."

Perhaps there is an alternative to political reformism vs. therapy?

Has reformist 'Diversity' morphed into a form of discipline aimed at individuals while providing an alibi to...

Mazarine

I wrote a post about the "recent finding" from Captain Obvious that nonprofit leaders of color are underrepresented here:

http://www.wildwomanfundraising.com/incoming-message-captain-obvious

How do we change attitudes and biases? Make it a safe discussion topic for the workplace!

Take your conversation meta. Say, "Well, that statement sounds like a bias has been uncovered here."

Mazarine
http://wildwomanfundraising.com

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