For this assignment, reflect on the reading from Lumen Learning and the TED Talk by Mellody Hobson, president of money management firm Ariel Investments (included in the Week 4 readings and viewings). Hobson discusses the difference between being “color blind” and “color brave” when it comes to the subject of race. She contends that diversity in hiring makes for better businesses, products, and research. In your written reply, address the following questions:
1. Hobson says, “[R]ace is one of those topics in America that makes people extraordinarily uncomfortable. You bring it up at a dinner party or in a workplace environment, it is literally the conversational equivalent of touching the third rail. There is shock, followed by a long silence.” Why do you think it’s so difficult to talk about race and diversity in our workplaces and institutions? Do you think it has it become easier, or harder, for Americans to talk about race in 2024? Explain.
2. Hobson says, “We cannot afford to be color blind. We have to be color brave. We have to be willing, as teachers and parents and entrepreneurs and scientists, we have to be willing to have proactive conversations about race with honesty and understanding and courage, not because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the smart thing to do, because our businesses and our products and our science, our research, all of that will be better with greater diversity.” Identify opportunities you have to be “color brave.” Why do you think Hobson says diversity will make our businesses and products better?
3. Your readings discussed influences on organizational culture and methods for maintaining or changing culture. How do you think these influences and methods could work to foster open discussion about race and diversity in an organization? Use vocabulary from the readings, but share the answer in your own words.