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haleymbryant | 5 years ago

It's great to hear that there are structured channels for communication about racism and bias.

Your message is in conflict with itself though; you're saying there is no racism but that it is consistently addressed internally - racism and more broadly unconscious bias is everywhere. One of the things this time is reminding me of is that fixing this problem is not some one else's job, it's all of our jobs. Believing racism doesn't exist in our own networks/companies keeps us silent about the problem and slows the honesty and understanding required to make change happen.

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seesawtron|5 years ago

Some people just want to make change happen in fields where there is no existing problem. Of course we face other issues that require change all the time but racism is not one of them in our company.

psychometry|5 years ago

That racism somehow doesn't exist in your company is both unlikely and impossible to prove. It's almost certain that the situation is worse that you believe.

seesawtron|5 years ago

I said we have well structured channels to address any kinds of issues. I never said they were being used to address racism internally but they could be used for it though, but like I said, we don't have this issue. You have misunderstood my comment to support your own worldview into mine.

undecisive|5 years ago

I'm not sure that your conclusion here is correct - you may want reconsider before you accuse someone of unwholesome motivations ;)

The problem is that you have categorically stated that you do not have racism. Unless you're a one-person-band (and maybe even if you are a one-person-band), you cannot possibly prove the absence of something, especially something as pervasive and insidious as bias (any bias - including racial).

You can say we have no reported bias. You might even claim to have no biases worth reporting.

But absolutely zero bias? That would be an amazing thing to behold, even in an individual. Certainly something to strive for, never something to claim categorically.

_y5hn|5 years ago

People can be discriminated against for all kinds of reasons and lack of great reasons. So I think you bring up a good point, and additionally it can also be generalized to be aware if we are doing enough to be inclusive of everyone.