Isn't It Time for Education NOT Cancellation

"cancelling" someone who has                 , and not only apologized but has changed and grown. is wrong. That kind of cancellation is lazy and maintains a “status quo,”        

People who continue to commit harmful actions, support racism, homophobia, and other forms of hatred, and use “free speech” as an excuse to let that poison spread should be “called out” or “cancelled.”?

But "cancelling" someone who has taken responsibility for their past words or actions, and not only apologized but has changed and grown. is wrong. That kind of cancellation is lazy and maintains a “status quo,” I think the "self-appointed cancel police," needs to stop. They need to first look at themselves and their own past.

In the thirty years that I’ve helped leaders with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion I’ve seen amazing transformations in people.

We created the "Everyday Dialogue Process." We facilitate dialogues across race, gender, religion, etc. where participants feel comfortable enough to share their past, ask questions, and let go of bias, wrong assumptions and beliefs about people who are different.

?We take the time for education to help another person grow. Some people, not only change as individuals but they continue to educate others and become outspoken advocates for DEI in their organizations and communities.

?If we didn't create psychologically safe space to be open, they would have silently held onto biases and fears. They would have continued to only recognize and appreciate people who look like them.

What the “cancel squad” is essentially doing is declaring their own perfection, setting up tribunals and shutting people down who could be allies.

Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People

For the past three years, in order to reach more people and expand the conversation across the globe, I started a podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People,” www.raceconvo.com. We have cross-race conversations about race where guests share their experiences with racism, and offer advice and solutions.

When Cancel Culture Has Disastrous Result

A recent guest on my show is an example of the dangers of cancel culture. Amr Awadallah, is the former VP of Develop Relationships for Google Cloud. He is also a Muslim who was born and raised in Egypt. Amr was fired after he wrote a paper, “We Are One,” which talked about his past animosity towards Jewish people, and how he came to renounce those views after working and developing close relationships with Jewish people. Amr also discovered he has Jewish DNA.

?Instead of being seen as an example for other people by Google, and celebrated for his courage to reveal his old thinking, he was fired.

Along with Amr, my other guest was Sara Speer Selber, managing partner of QuestEssential, and member of Saalam Shalom, a Jewish-Muslim women’s organization, who contacted Amr. The two of them engaged in dialogue, became friends and were guests on my show.

Listen now to this Muslim/Jewish conversation on race

If we believe in real diversity, equity and inclusion, ending hate, and spreading love across the globe we need to help people change and support their growth. We don’t have the luxury of throwing people away. Now is the time for education, not cancellation.?

What You Can Do to be an Influencing Force for Social Justice and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As an individual

1-???Start with you. Reflect on your own history. Look at times you’ve said or taken an action that could be seen as racist, sexist, etc. What caused your change? How can you use your experience to educate others?

2-???Learn to provide feedback and correction in ways that are constructive and help people grow.

In your organization

1???Incorporate facilitated dialogue circles throughout your organization where people from different backgrounds can have meaningful conversations with each other, and find new ways to collaborate

2-???Build a psychologically safe culture so people can learn from each other and ask questions that may be difficult or uncomfortable.??