On Tuesday, February 18, in Grace Hall, the Office of University Diversity Initiatives, the Black Student Union, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee brought together the campus community for a community forum titled Language: Intent vs. Impact and Other Reasons Talking About Race Is Hard.
Diversity and leadership consultant Nnenna Akotaobi, principal and founder of 122 Consulting Group, facilitated an interactive presentation with the goal of creating a skillset that attendees could use as a foundation for constructive dialogue. She directed skill-building exercises and team activities, a discussion about salient identities, and dialogue surrounding the history of the use of racial slurs, including her own personal experiences. Participants were encouraged to develop their active listening skills and sense of empathy—key elements in forging productive conversations on difficult topics, according to Akotaobi.
Referencing the quote “We judge ourselves by our intentions, but we judge others by their impact” [author unknown], much of the conversation focused on aligning intent with impact.
“You cannot measure—you cannot know—a person’s intent,” said Akotaobi. “You do know the impact of their actions. You know how it made you feel.”
She guided discussion exploring why talking about race is difficult—as well as important and necessary, even if it is uncomfortable—and addressed a common breakdown in communication about race.
When someone says something that unintentionally has a negative impact, typically, he or she immediately tries to explain the intent, said Akotaobi. That explanation is often perceived as racist, which can result in the person continuing to clarify the intent, but always getting the same reaction. Ultimately, it’s a cycle that result in complete communication breakdown.
To prevent this, Akotaobi provided a strategy to communicate productively.
“First, acknowledge the impact,” said Akotaobi. Listen and reflect, and hold yourself accountable for the impact, she continued. “Then explain the intent,” she said, indicating that people might be more willing to listen and empathize if you’ve acknowledged the impact and empathized with them.
Akotaobi closed the forum by providing attendees with some calls to action, including a link to Harvard’s free implicit bias test. Other action items included “Practice silencing your inner voice, speaking your truth, listening intently, and understanding your identity” and “Learn about the history and scrutinize your use of racialized language.”
Acknowledging the work that was done through the forum and the work that remains to be done, Akotaobi’s final action item called on the entire Cabrini community to “Stay true to the community you want to be.”
Cabrini continues its educational programming surrounding issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the March 6 Shirley Dixon Celebration of Urban Education Symposium, featuring keynote speaker Tim Wise, a prominent anti-racist writer and educator in the United States. The theme for the event, The Fierce Urgency of Now, challenges educators and individuals who are concerned about equity to facilitate transformational servant leadership through the lens of courage, convictions, and humility. The on-campus event will begin at 5:30pm.