During National Adoption Awareness Month, we have compiled a number of Ted Talks covering parenting, adoption, differences in ability, and other topics that we think our friends and families will find interesting. Each week, we will post a few suggested talks. We hope that these will pique your interest, illuminate new ideas, and/or get you talking with those around you.
This week’s videos all talk about race. We welcome you to engage with the rest of the CH/LSS community by sharing your responses to these videos on our Facebook page.
Ted Talk 1: The Beauty of Human Skin in Every Color
Angélica Dass’s photography challenges how we think about skin color and ethnic identity. In this personal talk, hear about the inspiration behind her portrait project, Humanæ, and her pursuit to document humanity’s true colors rather than the untrue white, red, black and yellow associated with race.
Ted Talk 2: How to Raise a Black Son in America
As kids, we all get advice from parents and teachers that seems strange, even confusing. This was crystallized one night for a young Clint Smith, who was playing with water guns in a dark parking lot with his white friends. In a heartfelt piece, the poet paints the scene of his father’s furious and fearful response.
Ted Talk 3: how to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them
Our biases can be dangerous, even deadly — as we’ve seen in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, in Staten Island, New York. Diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how.
