If you would like to receive a new quote every week via email to remind you that you too can succeed in spite of racism, subscribe to SISOR QUOTES by sending an email to: sisorsubscribe@tracybrown.com. It's free . . . so do it now! :-)

Some of you listened live when we recorded this series. It's been removed from the archives but it's still available for purchase and immediate download.

What is white privilege? How do white people learn about privilege and racism and white culture? These are some of the questions discussed in this two part series. Tracy Brown talks about white privilege and white culture using quotations from books, articles and real people.She is joined by a couple of colleagues who are white to explore this sensitive subject.

• Part One focuses on defining white privilege and exploring early lessons learned about race, racism and race relations.
• Part Two focuses on white culture, minimizing negative impact from white privilege and personal action plans.

Each part is approximately one hour in length. Purchase and download to learn more about what it means to be white, how white privilege shows up in the workplace and what you can do about it. Great to share with members of your diversity council, employee resource groups and other diversity champions. Also helpful for leaders in community-based organizations working with an ethnically diverse client base.

Dr Yolanda Brooks received this advice when she was young and it has served her well. More tips from Dr Yolanda Brooks about succeeding in spite of racism:

1. STOP. Slow down. Are you having an emotional reaction? Don't just react . . . take some deep breaths.
2. LOOK.  Look at the context. What else is going on? Who else is involved?
3. LISTEN. Pay attention to the messages being given to you and also to what you are saying to yourself.
4. FACTS. Try to objectively describe what is going on and why.
5. Design a PLAN OF ACTION.  After you stop, look, listen and review the facts . . . design a specific plan of action that will help you move forward.

Listen to today's show and hear great advice and real-life examples of succeeding in spite of racism!

/tracy

Public Agenda's overview on the issue of race in America: http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/overview.cfm?issue_type=race For over a quarter of a century, Public Agenda has been providing unbiased and unparalleled research that bridges the gap between American leaders and what the public really thinks about issues ranging from education to foreign policy to immigration to religion and civility in American life. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, Public Agenda was founded by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance

Upcoming Teleseminar: 6 Secrets for Succeeding in Spite of Racism on Monday, March 26 at 6:30pm central time. For more information click on title or visit:  http://6secrets.eventbrite.com/

Are you broke because of racism or just poor money management? Mark your calendars for special guest Brooke Stephens on March 29 at 3pm central time. Brooke is the author of "Talking Dollars and Sense" and "Making Wealth Happen One Day at a Time"

To Your Success,

/tracy

Also Recommended: Working While Black: The Black Person's Guide to Success in the White Workplace by Michelle T Johnson.

Poems by a variety of women about Black women's hair: http://www.geocities.com/jywanza1/Blackwomenshaira.html

From an article: "Can I Touch Your Hair: On Bein' Black in New Mexico" by Virginia Lovliere Hampton

"One of those common experiences is having our hair “touched” if we have or wear our hair “nappy.” In Albuquerque--and, I hear, in Santa Fe, too--“nappy-headed” people of African descent are confronted regularly with having perfect strangers reach toward us to touch our hair or, worse, that of our young children—often without asking—like we’re dolls or other merchandise to be handled. It's unsettling, objectifying and rude, especially for those of us who, like me, are from the South, where, apparently, white folks are raised a little better. We are often too stunned to stop the behavior or say anything that doesn’t make the innocent-feeling perpetrators turned victims literally terrified for their lives.  [To read the entire article visit: http://alibi.com/index.php?story=18005&scn=feature]

See you next time on The R Word: Succeed IN SPITE OF Racism!

To Your Success,

/tracy

In today's segment (3/16/07) when we were talking about internalized oppression we referred to the video by teenager Kiri Davis titled "A Girl Like Me." Part of the video contains footage of black preschoolers choosing between a white doll and black doll; recreating the research Dr Kenneth Clarke did during the famous Brown vs the Board of Education case of the 1950s. Sadly, the results were not significantly different than they were more than 50 years ago. Through media, school, and general socialization black children get the same message as everyone else: that white  is good, pretty, smart, nice and that black is bad, ugly, dumb. If you haven't already seen the video you can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGDMevuZZVM 

If you want to purchase a copy of this classic book that applies to all of us who want to be productive and build positive relationships in the workplace click on the book title above, or cut and past the following URL into your browser: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0743269519/persontopersonco/002-2891463-4732059 

To Your Success! /tracy

You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156013487/persontopersonco/002-2891463-4732059

or visit the SUCCEED IN SPITE OF RACISM RECOMMENDED BOOKS list on Amazon.com

Thankfully there are fewer situations each year where blatant discrimination exists. But in some ways that makes it harder to deal with. If someone calls you a name or tells you they are not promoting you because of your race there are clear cut policies and procedures to guide you through that. But racism now is so much more subtle, and often unintentional. Race relations in the community is not much better than 20 years ago and that carries over into the workplace.

Question: So what are you to do?

Answer: Listen to (or dial in to) THE R WORD: SUCCEEDING IN SPITE OF RACISM, of course!

The focus of this show is to "get real" and talk about practical strategies people whose lives are affected by racism can use to succeed at work in spite of challenges caused as a result of racism.

One more thing . . . it is important to understand this show is not about civil rights, social justice or political action. We will be talking about how race, racism and race relations show up in the workplace. You'll hear from real people sharing examples of how they handled their own challenges. You'll receive tips for keeping your sanity - and your self esteem - when it feels like you can't succeed. We'll be talking about personal action plans not political ones.

So dial in and share your story . . . or just subscribe to the podcast and listen to the stories (and the solutions) from other people.