I spoke to a friend recently who’s in the job market. She’s in a good spot in that she’s already employed, she’s just looking for a better opportunity. But she was grumbling about one particular person she works with who has single handedly spurred her to go hard at her job search. I just laughed. …
Aunt Jemima Is Dead
I must say I don’t feel the least bit gruesome for the subtle satisfaction I feel in acknowledging — dare I say, low key celebrating? — someone’s demise. But I don’t. I suppose it helps that Aunt Jemima isn’t actually a person. She’s a construct. An antiquated, racist construct that has now officially been rebranded. Out with …
Cyborg Is No More — at Least Not Ray Fisher’s Version
So, actor Ray Fisher is in the news. He will officially not be continuing his role as Cyborg in the upcoming movie The Flash, but not because of bad behavior or illness. It appears he's been fired for being too truthful. The short version is, he called out Justice League director Joss Whedon for racist, abusive behavior on set, and …
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To Avoid Arrest and Death in Cases of Domestic Terrorism, It’s Best to Have Blue Eyes and White Skin
My closest friends know I have a running joke about how in my next life I want to be reincarnated as a white man. I’d like to be 6’3″, fine, with thick, jet black hair, milk pale skin and blue eyes. I mean blue! That spooky, piercing Chris Pine/Paul Newman blue. The rest of me …
2021, Cool.
I wanted to be terribly hopeful and happy and excited about 2021, but I confess: I’m more like, meh. Honestly, it feels like just another day, which was, for me, par for the course for 2020. One day ran into the next, and before I knew it, my birthday passed. Then it was fall, and …
There Are No Winners, Only Losers in the Timnit Gebru-Google Situation
So, Google is in the news this week, and not in a good way. The company fired Timnit Gebru, co-leader of its Ethical Artificial Intelligence team, and her release to the marketplace was not amiable. Gebru announced her departure on Twitter after it happened, and immediately made it clear that it was hinky. She said …
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The Media Is In Crisis, and It’s Taking America Down with It
In a word, what’s happening right now in the media, and low key in this country, is a shitshow. It’s like this Fast Company piece from Joe Berkowitz said: “We are heading down a dark path, and laughing all the way about the shoddy paving.” It’s ridiculous, but this is the reality. We are so bogged down …
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Leaders Concede. They Know It’s Not the End, Nor Is It a Sign of Weakness
So, that person's refusal to concede the election has me thinking about leadership. Mine, the leaders I've encountered in the past, and those I've been privileged to work with recently. Self-reflection is really something. I think it's a mark of maturity — especially when you can do it calmly, with an eye on improvement. Not, say, to …
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Social Media Trolling Should Not Be Your Preferred Method of Online Communication
Trolls are still a thing. Like, a serious thing! It’s so weird, right? It feels kind of pathetic to lash out at strangers online. Or is it just me? I mean, we can see that it’s almost certainly a waste of time. I suppose I should qualify that we. I mean as the more reasonable …
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Can You Have Too Much Diversity?
I’m helping put together a diversity-themed event for a client, and an interesting question came up that I want to share with you: Can you have too much diversity? Now, the question originated from a very conservative, white, Christian person, someone who had a work experience where there were apparently a lot of chefs in …