Open Communication: A Candid Conversation about Race, Bias and Cultural Competency

On the anniversary of our co-authored blog post on misconceptions surrounding modesty and the muslim faith in regards to massage, Cordelia Gaffar guest hosts a special episode of NoVA Weekend Warriors where we discuss race, diversity and culture candidly and openly with a group of participants who share their experiences, questions and thoughts... with a goal of bringing us together through exploring our differences and listening experiences other than our own.

A note from Meg: I understand that 1 hour 15 minutes may seem like a long time. But if you are unable to take that amount of time in one sitting, I understand. I then, ask of you, to save the link and visit the discussion in bite size increments over the next few days. Or feel free to listen to the podcast version so you can easily stop and come back to it (link will be provided on Friday afternoon). Like many conversations, the toughest parts may happen for you later in the episode... and while sometimes cringe worthy, I think they are important. We are in a unique time were we are no longer sweeping things under the table. We are finally addressing them, understanding the consequences of our actions and doing the work to do better. My hope is that this conversation works towards that goal.

A special thank you to today's guest host Cordelia Gaffar.
Learn more about Cordelia Gaffar and her work at: cordeliagaffar.com

Resources referenced in today's session:

Self Reflections on Injustice by Cordelia Gaffar
https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/self-reflections-on-injustice/

4 Ways White People Can Process Their Emotions Without Hijacking the Conversation on Racial Justice
https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/4-ways-white-people-can-process-their-emotions-without-bringing-the-white-tears/

Let's get to the root of racial injustice | Megan Ming Francis | TEDxRainier
https://youtu.be/-aCn72iXO9s

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Nation's Divide
https://youtu.be/YBYUET24K1c

What Beyonce Taught Me About Race | Brittany Barron | TEDxPasadenaWomen
https://youtu.be/fDzj9vRw5yM

Choosing Love over Anger
https://youtu.be/w0fSK8z38uQ

Using the Power of Play to Create Love
https://youtu.be/EQ91IEvrESk

Akala at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0iiybe5-nA

White Fragility by Dr. Robin DiAngelo
https://www.scrawlbooks.com/book/9780807047415
https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780807047415

How to Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780525509288
https://www.scrawlbooks.com/book/9780525509288

Race, Diversity and Cultural Competency Resources for Massage Therapists and Fitness Professionals
https://www.massagetherapybymeg.com/post/race-diversity-and-cultural-competency-resources-for-massage-therapists

Auto-transcription available upon request through Temi.

This episode first appeared at: novaweekendwarriors.com/podcast.