Lies about Black people

In this episode Judith Germain and Dr Omekongo Dibinga have an insightful discussion about lies and stereotypes about Black people and how to combat racism.

This episode was originally recorded in October 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Racist stereotypes and lies about Black people are pervasive globally, not just in the US. These false narratives must be actively challenged.
• Leaders must commit to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for real change to occur in organisations. Performative efforts are not enough.
• Safe spaces are crucial, but bringing everyone together too soon can be counterproductive. Meet in separate affinity groups first.
• We must look at our own lives and circles critically and ask hard questions through an anti-racist lens. The "Rule of Seven" exercise is one way to do this.
• Nuance and context is key. We must ask better questions and not make assumptions.

In this conversation Dr Omekongo Dibinga elaborated on the global lies and stereotypes about Black people that impact perceptions and treatment. He explained how these false narratives stem from historical racism and persist through media, policies, and cultural conditioning. Omekongo and Judith discussed concrete solutions organisations can implement for authentic diversity, equity and inclusion. This requires commitment from leadership, assessing biases, employee feedback, hiring practices and going beyond performative efforts.

Dr Omekongo Dibinga is a Professor, DEI Consultant and poet.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.