How to Talk to Someone Who Doesn't Look Like You

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How do you start a conversation with someone from a different race, culture, or background without saying the wrong thing? It's a question that paralyses many of us in our increasingly diverse workplaces, schools, and communities. We're so afraid of offending that we often avoid meaningful connections entirely.

In this episode, we're joined by Claudia McKenzie, General Manager of Park's Edge Bar and Kitchen in South London and former PR executive, who brings both personal experience and practical wisdom to one of our most challenging social dynamics.

Claudia's story spans generations - from her parents' journey from Jamaica in the 1960s, facing "No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish" signs while helping rebuild post-war Britain, to her own experiences navigating predominantly white spaces as a successful Black British professional. Her perspective is both unflinching about barriers and refreshingly pragmatic about solutions.

We explore the infamous Buckingham Palace "Where are you really from?" incident, discuss why conversations about race feel harder now despite social progress, and tackle the fear that stops us from reaching across cultural divides. Claudia's advice? "We all just need to get a grip and remember that most people are simply curious about each other”.

This conversation we hope will change how you approach cross-cultural communication, whether you're building workplace relationships, making friends in your community, or simply want to connect more authentically with people who look different from you.

This Episode is For You If you want to build better relationships across racial and cultural differences, feel nervous about saying the wrong thing in diverse environments, lead teams with people from various backgrounds, want to understand the Black British experience better, are curious about how historical context affects current conversations, work in multicultural settings, or simply want to be more confident connecting with people who don't look like you.

Guest Bio: Claudia McKenzie is the co-owner and General Manager of Park's Edge Bar and Kitchen in Herne Hill, South London, known for its exceptional Jamaican-British fusion cuisine. A former PR executive with extensive experience in corporate communications, Claudia brings unique insights to cross-cultural dialogue shaped by her family's journey from 1960s Jamaica to modern Britain. She's passionate about authentic conversation and building bridges across differences.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Windrush generation and post-war Caribbean immigration to Britain
• Systemic barriers and the "work twice as hard" reality
• Strategic naming choices and professional advancement
• The Buckingham Palace incident: intention vs. impact
• Social media's effect on racial discourse
• Workplace diversity and inclusion conversations
• Historical context for current racial tensions
• Building authentic relationships across cultural differences

Connect with Claudia:

• Park's Edge Bar and Kitchen, 49-51 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 9AA
• Book here: https://parksedgebarandkitchen.com/ or by calling 0208 671 0306 or emailing [e-mail]
• Instagram: @parksedgebarandkitchen
• Facebook: @parksedgebarandkitchen