Episode 7
Discussing the Undiscussable:
Recalling the Voices of Diversity Matters Guests – Jane Elliott, Johnetta Cole, and Others
Friday, April 20, 2007; 10AM (Eastern)

With three words, shock jock Don Imus turned up the heat on a national dialogue regarding diversity and inclusion.  In this national conversation some defend Imus’s right to free speech, or counter concerns about his comment’s impact by pointing to the words of some hip hop icons, or even thank Imus for saying what actually may be on the minds of many others. Co-hosts Judy Seidenstein and Richard Friend discuss this current “diversity emergency” by recalling the voices of previous guests of Diversity Matters.  Jane Elliott, one of diversity’s most provocative educators, argues that combating hate and intolerance requires approaches that may be described as “cruel” or “Orwellian.”  Dr. Johnnetta Cole, President of Bennett College for Women, says that even after a lifetime committed to working for social justice and inclusion, hateful speech “still keeps her up at night.”  Yolanda King, author, actor, speaker, producer and first born daughter of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King spoke about reaching across the table and embracing our common ground.  Does that include Imus?  Richard and Judy examine the interconnections between race, class, gender and other dimensions of diversity as they impact inclusion and Imus’s words.

• If authentic voice is required for promoting inclusion, how do we transform our communities, organizations and ourselves by censoring others?
• If candor is a cornerstone of the trust required to build inclusion, when does honesty become hate speech?
• If inclusion is about creating a world where everyone matters, does that include people with whom we fundamentally disagree?

Richard and Judy have mastered the art of discussing the undiscussable with both candor and care.  Striking this delicate balance is a key requirement for building inclusion at work and in the world.