Comments on: Racism in the Workplace and BLM: Our First Conversation

By: Midgie Thompson

Midgie Thompson — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 07:08:24 +0000

In reply to Margaret Lally. Thanks for sharing Margaret. I do believe there is indeed a difference between a genuine interest and curiosity to find out more versus simply wanting to put someone in a box because of where they come from and make broad generalizations. It's about being open and have a conversation!

By: Margaret Lally

Margaret Lally — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:25:50 +0000

It is very interesting that racism is only perceived as being with regard to skin colour. I am Scottish and will always be asked - where do you come from? Does everyone have red hair and freckles? Are you a big whisky drinker? I may get called a wee haggis.
I believe it is more a lack of knowledge or perceived information regarding culture.
I have a white colleague who is Romanian and one of the questions I asked her when we began to work together was "where are you from?" The only reason being she had an accent and I was interested to learn about her culture. We often talk and compare cultures - this is not racism, it is genuine interest in learning more holistically about the each other and our reasons for certain likes, dislikes, what we deem as rude or friendly, acceptable or unacceptable. This is not racism when people do this, it is a learning process and we need to do that in order to truly value each other as individuals.

By: Midgie Thompson

Midgie Thompson — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 14:09:29 +0000

In reply to Keith Walker. Thanks for your comment, Keith. Mind Tools remains committed to promoting and enabling fair and respectful behavior by all, toward all, especially in the workplace. BLM has reminded us how far we have yet to go to achieve this, and our colleague's conversation reflects thoughtfully on that. We hope you keep reading, listening and watching.

By: Keith Walker

Keith Walker — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:35:50 +0000

I have been using Mindtools for years and am deeply disappointed that you would choose to support an organisation that is racist against European people (literally claiming that only European people can be racist), has a policy of destroying the nuclear family, is openly violent and is substantially run by Marxists who are directly opposed to democracy and capitalism. Truly disappointing and disturbing that you consider this acceptable.