Summary of Kwame Christian's How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The reason we should be talking about race at work is that we care about our colleagues and the relationships we have with them. If we don’t have these conversations, it means we don’t care about something else.

#2 Using the buddy system to have difficult conversations about race with white and nonwhite colleagues will improve your relationships, help advance racial justice, and make you more effective in your work.

#3 It’s important to have frank conversations about race at work, because otherwise you don’t care about something else.

#4 If you care about others, you’ll have to have difficult conversations with them. We can’t have meaningful relationships without talking about things that are important to the other person.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Sep 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798350029680

IRB Media

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Insights on Kwame Christian's How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The reason we should be talking about race at work is because it requires a lot of time and effort, which is in short supply in the workplace. Thus, any kind of progress requires effort, and people are often unwilling to put in that effort.

#2

We must have difficult conversations about race at work because we care about our colleagues and relationships with them. We care about fairness, and we want progress.

#3

Having difficult conversations with your colleagues about race can be difficult, but it is important to address them in order to build stronger relationships.

#4

When you care about your colleagues, you will have to have difficult conversations on a number of topics, including race. How can you show that you care about someone if you are unwilling or unable to speak to their fundamental emotional needs.

#5

Fairness is something we as human beings care about deeply. It is difficult to see unfairness when you believe that you are the one being treated unfairly. However, if you have the luxury of not being treated unfairly, it can be much harder to see the unfair treatment of others.

#6

Being better as a company means creating a culture where people feel comfortable expressing themselves openly and authentically. This provides a foundation for progress in other areas.

#7

The skills of negotiation, conflict management, and effective communication are critical to the process of creating positive change. Difficult conversations are how you manage that inevitable conflict, and how you show you care about your colleagues, fairness, and progress.

#8