In this expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas, a renowned diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, leads participants through an insightful discussion on advancing equity.
Tash sets the stage with a thought-provoking scenario, inviting attendees to reflect upon how the experience of a hypothetical new employee named EO from Nigeria would compare to their own organizations. This open-ended question encourages deep introspection and self-reflection, setting the tone for an engaging exploration of racial equity.
Throughout the session, Tash emphasizes the importance of understanding language and its role in addressing racism and discrimination. She clarifies various terms related to race and identities, such as People of Color (POC), Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), minoritized groups, and racialized individuals.
To further ignite the conversation, Tash asks attendees to share one word that comes to mind when they think about racism. This simple yet powerful activity elicits honest responses and initiates a dialogue on the topic. Tash also shares her own insights, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging biases and being open-minded.
The expert explains that race is a social construct used to categorize groups based on physical traits, such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture. Society has historically treated these categories as biologically significant, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this notion. The speaker emphasizes that racism is the system of power and oppression that results from these categorizations.
Tash shares statistics illustrating how women of color are disproportionately affected by various forms of discrimination and feeling compelled to change their appearance or presentation to be seen as acceptable leaders.
The expert highlights the significant role media plays in shaping our perceptions and reinforcing stereotypes. They provide examples of subtle ways media influences our understanding of black and brown people, such as portrayal of certain hairstyles and language used to describe defendants in trials. The speaker also notes that the movie industry has a considerable impact on our collective consciousness by influencing how we perceive and represent people from diverse backgrounds.
Tash shares her personal journey towards understanding racial inequality and the significance of listening and learning from the experiences of people of color. She encourages individuals to recognize their privilege and use it to support those impacted by harmful actions or words, even if unintentionally delivered as jokes. Tash also emphasizes acknowledging emotional labor during times of social unrest.
In addressing the current climate's focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Tash emphasizes that DEI is not an additional task but rather a part of everyday work. By creating psychologically safe spaces where individuals can be their authentic selves and practicing self-awareness and consciousness of stereotypes, one can contribute to fostering an inclusive environment.
Throughout the session, Tash recommends various resources for further learning about understanding the black experience, recognizing bias and stereotypes, and addressing structural racism. She closes the session by encouraging everyone to continue the conversation and do their part in promoting equity and inclusion.
