Color blind or color brave? | Mellody Hobson

The subject of race can be very touchy. As finance executive Mellody Hobson says, it's a "conversational third rail." But, she says, that's exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring — makes for better businesses and a better society.

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[joeyespinosa]

"Be comfortable being uncomfortable."

Probably the best take-away.

[kimberlypickens]

I’m so glad to have been introduced to the lady, she’s dynamic, informative, and a hella a role to all women of color at all ages. As I read through the comments to see if anyone else was as moved as I was. But some of the comments conformed my great grandmothers saying “it takes all kinds to make the world go around”, wow. Who’s she married to, her dress and the disbelief that this occurs.

[TheDtfamu]

Diversity tends to help remove " groupthink". I see it in my own job all the time. You don't know what you don't know when you surround yourself with people who use the same lens you do to look at the world. Sometimes to get on the other side of a problem, you need another perspective, a fresh set of eyes.

[lordcron]

What I tell my people (Black People) is that education is the single most important thing they'll ever do in this world. We can't wait for white America to shape up. We have it in us to form our own businesses. Stop waiting for white people to validate your existence! I'm an African American and I learned at a young age that going to college is the most important thing I can do for myself and I jumped on it and ran with it graduated from it and I own my own business lock, stock and barrel. No one tells me what to do or think because I'm the boss.

[lucaswilloughby]

Saying you desire race neutral policies is not the same as saying you don’t see race or even more so you don’t value racial differences. It’s just saying that by removing race as a factor it minimizes bias. Encouraging people to constantly highlight their differences just reinforces the natural tendency of “us vs them”. Instead we should form personal relationship with difference races and find commonality. Commonality is abundant among us all if you are looking for it.

[maybe.yellow]

"Imagine if I walked you into a room and every single person around the boardroom were black, you would think that were weird. But if I walked you into a company and everyone around the table is a white male, when will it be that we think that's weird too?"

That's actually really eye opening, I'm gonna borrow that quote.

[raulsanchez]

You had me until about 5:49 this is a major strawman of what color blindness really is. It’s not “Pretending that we don’t notice race”, it’s rather the idea that race shouldn’t be an integral part of one’s identity. Therefore, it doesn’t entail “ignoring the problem” of racism, because we can acknowledge that people do discriminate on the basis of race. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive.

[ZirconCode]

A great talk, I don't see why it's getting all the negativity.

She isn't blaming anything on racism, she is simply stating that the disparity still exists. She is talking about the problem, and stating that there is one. She said countless times that her goal is not to complain or blame. She knows the automatic responses.

She makes a great point. Ignoring race does not solve the problem, it is only a modern and acceptable method of hiding it. We don't yet live in a world which would afford us this privilege.

[personperson]

Anybody else having to watch this for a discussion forum that's due in an hour at 11:59pm? Lmao

[kamiekogoines]

coming back to this tedtalk because it is so relevant today.

[michaelbrown]

This woman's words were very careful and very deliberate.

It almost sounds bad like she was walking on eggshells not to offend anyone but the truth is; it wasn't that at all. She kept emotion out of it and continued the conversation, because you can't accomplish the goal if the people you're trying to reach become closed off.

This is a very bright woman.

[honeybdream]

Yes being around people from different countries races and cultures can shift your entire world view and strengthen your social intelligence

[sheilahsutton]

Great talk Melody. My immediate reaction is that what she said was intelligent, thoughtful, and brave. But as I look down at some of the dissenting comments I just become baffled. She is misquoted, shunned for her experiences, and also an suggestion that she may need to see a psychiatrist. To me the demeaning comment show fear - fear of this topic and a fear of acknowledging the experience of some people in this great land of opportunity. As a nation we must stop pretending that racism is imaginary - Institutional racism is alive and well. Again, Melody shared on this topic very eloquently - We need more people in power to speak out in this same manner - brave and calm!!

[Froglettsawesome]

The only thing to stop racism, is understandig the idea that we are all the same. We all have diff experiences and uniqueness on our own. There's nothing to compare to, either it is skin color, facial aesthetics or financial status

[janevah]

I love this! Saying that you don't "see" color is encouraging the right attitude and the wrong attitude at the same time. This attitude towards race displays a person's efforts to treat people equally; but it ignores the hierarchical social, economic, and psychological realities created around race. It is not okay to be racist, but it is okay to "see" color; we need to.

[nanettedelmonaco]

I've always admired Mellody Hobson, but this Ted Talk makes me admire her even more. I don't feel that using statistics to make a point is a negative against anyone, but rather gives us a measure of what it is like to be a person of color, or white, in today's society. The goal is to be color brave as she puts it so eloquently, and be inclusive at every opportunity.

[SoCalLoanMatchmaker]

I love her voice, her passion, her wisdom and indeed, there will only be a true wealth when all the colors, religions, genders etc...are represented.

[zonismith]

Thank you Mellody Hobson, one day soon we will live in a world where it won't be based on color but based on intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom of which we all bestow. Although I personally don't have much respect for whites/ Caucasians because of what they have done to our people even in today's time. I learned I must not be angry with them because I will be shackled down in anger and pain not allowing me to grow to best of my ability. Thank you for being a leader. Thank you for questioning the "norm".

[kevinallen]

Racism is indeed very uncomfortable;but until we address the problems then we'll move forward. How many times has America tried to ignore racism, but it always keep popping up in a different cycle! It's a real issue, and we should educate everyone on it!

[PhillipDMcCombs]

The fact that I was led here via a book means something. Excited to watch. Here we go!