“I Don’t See Color” and Other Well-Meaning Mistakes

By: A Staff Writer

Updated on: Sep 02, 2024

“I Don’t See Color” and Other Well-Meaning Mistakes

Good intentions don’t equal good impact. Avoid common phrases that actually shut down conversations about culture.

We want to be inclusive, but lack the vocabulary to have productive discussions about it.

• Acknowledge differences: Pretending everyone’s the same erases people’s experiences. Respectful curiosity is better.
• “Where are you REALLY from?”: Microaggressions sting, even if unintentional. Focus on getting to know the PERSON.
• Assuming everyone celebrates the same holidays: Offering flexibility shows sensitivity, boosts employee morale.
• Don’t make people your spokesperson: “As a [minority], what do you think?” is tokenizing and unfair.
• “I don’t have biases”: We ALL do. The first step towards change is acknowledging our own blind spots exist.
• Listen more, explain less: Center the voices and experiences of those from different cultures than your own.

What’s a phrase you’ve used that you now realize could be hurtful/exclusionary?

Find one credible resource (article, podcast, etc.) created BY someone from a culture outside your own.