Jan 11 2013: As a person lacking color, I notice that people of color who do not convert to the white way are often marginalized. I / we often do not know what to do about blocking or reversing this because there are no reasonably accessible options in front of us. (Reversing marginalization is worth taking more strenuous measures, I’m just saying that it is easy to get paralyzed even if sympathetic.) With this situation, we seem to have had an accessible means to counteract marginalization - listen to another voice (apparently an accomplished one) and think it over without needing to take action on it, just consider this voice among others. So it’s disappointing. But wait, Ms. Fields (great name for a farmer type) was selected to present and then unselected. That moves the dial from disappointment to feelings of betrayal and perhaps hostility.
I don’t wish this controversy on the good people at Glynwood who have gone to the trouble to make something good like TEDx Manhattan happen. But . . . here it is. I believe that you are big enough to handle it. If you are not used to talking about racial issues without being offensive, then it’s time you/we learned – this is the least that people lacking color can do.
If it’s really a discomfort in having people talk about race, then just say that. “We’re uncomfortable.” It will make you look foolish, but that’s usually the first step in trying to learn another culture. Ask Ms. Fields if she can help with translating the culture and the anguish & anger at being marginalized – could be wrong, but I bet she knows a lot about helping people talk about race. People probably ask her to speak on behalf of black people frequently. Getting more comfortable in talking about racial inequalities would be a great advance in any area of endeavor, including among the food system warriors.
Where is the intellectual curiosity? Where is the entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to leading the way in giving voice to the marginalized?
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I don’t wish this controversy on the good people at Glynwood who have gone to the trouble to make something good like TEDx Manhattan happen. But . . . here it is. I believe that you are big enough to handle it. If you are not used to talking about racial issues without being offensive, then it’s time you/we learned – this is the least that people lacking color can do.
If it’s really a discomfort in having people talk about race, then just say that. “We’re uncomfortable.” It will make you look foolish, but that’s usually the first step in trying to learn another culture. Ask Ms. Fields if she can help with translating the culture and the anguish & anger at being marginalized – could be wrong, but I bet she knows a lot about helping people talk about race. People probably ask her to speak on behalf of black people frequently. Getting more comfortable in talking about racial inequalities would be a great advance in any area of endeavor, including among the food system warriors.
Where is the intellectual curiosity? Where is the entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to leading the way in giving voice to the marginalized?