A New Perspective on How, and Why, to Embrace Cultural Diversity | Lea Black | TEDxBismarck

[Music]

[Music] imagine a place where every face is the

imagine a place where every face is the

imagine a place where every face is the exact same color exact same race where

exact same color exact same race where

exact same color exact same race where everybody thinks just like everyone else

everybody thinks just like everyone else

everybody thinks just like everyone else and any perspective outside is put on

and any perspective outside is put on

and any perspective outside is put on the Shelf is that really a place where

the Shelf is that really a place where

the Shelf is that really a place where anyone is free free to be you free to be

anyone is free free to be you free to be

anyone is free free to be you free to be me in an essence the place you are

me in an essence the place you are

me in an essence the place you are imagining in your mind’s eye is my

imagining in your mind’s eye is my

imagining in your mind’s eye is my hometown I grew up in rural America

hometown I grew up in rural America

hometown I grew up in rural America where the majority of the place was

where the majority of the place was

where the majority of the place was white even in 2010 it was still sitting

white even in 2010 it was still sitting

white even in 2010 it was still sitting at a ninety five point five percent

at a ninety five point five percent

at a ninety five point five percent white majority I grew Restless of this

white majority I grew Restless of this

white majority I grew Restless of this monoculture and dreamed of something

monoculture and dreamed of something

monoculture and dreamed of something more I craved culture variety and

more I craved culture variety and

more I craved culture variety and freedom to be different and while I

freedom to be different and while I

freedom to be different and while I didn’t travel outside the country as a

didn’t travel outside the country as a

didn’t travel outside the country as a young girl I did travel in my

young girl I did travel in my

young girl I did travel in my imagination through the magical vehicle

imagination through the magical vehicle

imagination through the magical vehicle of National Geographic magazines the

of National Geographic magazines the

of National Geographic magazines the imagery allowed me to dip into cultures

imagery allowed me to dip into cultures

imagery allowed me to dip into cultures around the world and one can say at this

around the world and one can say at this

around the world and one can say at this point an obsession between photography

point an obsession between photography

point an obsession between photography and culture was ignited within me and

and culture was ignited within me and

and culture was ignited within me and would eventually lead me to my life’s

would eventually lead me to my life’s

would eventually lead me to my life’s calling as a humanitarian photographer I

went on to study international relations

went on to study international relations and worked abroad in Jamaica after

and worked abroad in Jamaica after

and worked abroad in Jamaica after graduation I fell in love with the

graduation I fell in love with the

graduation I fell in love with the culture and people there but was also

culture and people there but was also

culture and people there but was also challenged to step outside of my comfort

challenged to step outside of my comfort

challenged to step outside of my comfort zone and expand my worldview

zone and expand my worldview

zone and expand my worldview I was poked and prodded to step into my

I was poked and prodded to step into my

I was poked and prodded to step into my assertiveness to find my voice and stand

assertiveness to find my voice and stand

assertiveness to find my voice and stand up for what I believe in I learned the

up for what I believe in I learned the

up for what I believe in I learned the true definition of resilience and

true definition of resilience and

true definition of resilience and self-reliance and I recognized

self-reliance and I recognized

self-reliance and I recognized opportunities and resources that I had

opportunities and resources that I had

opportunities and resources that I had taken for granted my whole

taken for granted my whole

taken for granted my whole and saw them with a new appreciation I

and saw them with a new appreciation I

and saw them with a new appreciation I was hosted by families and communities

was hosted by families and communities

was hosted by families and communities that exemplified love and hospitality

that exemplified love and hospitality

that exemplified love and hospitality that was second to none but what I truly

that was second to none but what I truly

that was second to none but what I truly received was a sense of expansive

received was a sense of expansive

received was a sense of expansive freedom when I realized that life could

freedom when I realized that life could

freedom when I realized that life could be different than it was in my small

be different than it was in my small

be different than it was in my small hometown I was awestruck by the cultural

hometown I was awestruck by the cultural

hometown I was awestruck by the cultural differences of the people that I

differences of the people that I

differences of the people that I photographed but I also recognized a

photographed but I also recognized a

photographed but I also recognized a place of common ground the expressions

place of common ground the expressions

place of common ground the expressions held in their faces and bodies

held in their faces and bodies

held in their faces and bodies I saw myself reflected in them from

I saw myself reflected in them from

I saw myself reflected in them from despair to elation I recognize that we

despair to elation I recognize that we

despair to elation I recognize that we are not different that we all contain

are not different that we all contain

are not different that we all contain this microcosm of emotional diversity

this microcosm of emotional diversity

this microcosm of emotional diversity within us but I questioned with this

within us but I questioned with this

within us but I questioned with this common denominator that connects us what

common denominator that connects us what

common denominator that connects us what are the factors that divide us and what

are the factors that divide us and what

are the factors that divide us and what are the solutions to unite us and I

are the solutions to unite us and I

are the solutions to unite us and I found that the factors that divide

found that the factors that divide

found that the factors that divide humanity at large this macrocosm of

humanity at large this macrocosm of

humanity at large this macrocosm of cultural diversity are the same factors

cultural diversity are the same factors

cultural diversity are the same factors that divide us within the

that divide us within the

that divide us within the misinterpretation of the contrasts in

misinterpretation of the contrasts in

misinterpretation of the contrasts in our lives in the misunderstanding of

our lives in the misunderstanding of

our lives in the misunderstanding of what true power is and how to access it

what true power is and how to access it

what true power is and how to access it so what is contrast contrast is a

so what is contrast contrast is a

so what is contrast contrast is a feedback system a messenger think Auto

feedback system a messenger think Auto

feedback system a messenger think Auto corrective GPS it is constantly showing

corrective GPS it is constantly showing

corrective GPS it is constantly showing us what is not working in our lives and

us what is not working in our lives and

us what is not working in our lives and meant to turn us in the direction of a

meant to turn us in the direction of a

meant to turn us in the direction of a clear alternative solution or in other

clear alternative solution or in other

clear alternative solution or in other words when we know what we don’t want we

words when we know what we don’t want we

words when we know what we don’t want we know what we do want with more clarity

know what we do want with more clarity

know what we do want with more clarity how would we know the value of our joy

how would we know the value of our joy

how would we know the value of our joy if we had never experienced the contrast

if we had never experienced the contrast

if we had never experienced the contrast of despair or how do we know the value

of despair or how do we know the value

of despair or how do we know the value of health if we had never experienced

of health if we had never experienced

of health if we had never experienced the contrast of being sick many people

the contrast of being sick many people

the contrast of being sick many people avoid the discomfort of the contrast in

avoid the discomfort of the contrast in

avoid the discomfort of the contrast in their lives at all costs let me ask you

their lives at all costs let me ask you

their lives at all costs let me ask you how fully do you embrace the microcosm

how fully do you embrace the microcosm

how fully do you embrace the microcosm of your emotional diversity are you is

of your emotional diversity are you is

of your emotional diversity are you is apt to embrace the uncomfortable

apt to embrace the uncomfortable

apt to embrace the uncomfortable emotions in your lives

emotions in your lives

emotions in your lives as you are to embrace the comfortable

as you are to embrace the comfortable

as you are to embrace the comfortable ones these parts of ourselves that we

ones these parts of ourselves that we

ones these parts of ourselves that we deem too uncomfortable to embrace

deem too uncomfortable to embrace

deem too uncomfortable to embrace comprise what is known as the contrast

comprise what is known as the contrast

comprise what is known as the contrast of our inner shadow Swiss psychologist

of our inner shadow Swiss psychologist

of our inner shadow Swiss psychologist Carl Jung said that the shadow was the

Carl Jung said that the shadow was the

Carl Jung said that the shadow was the person that we would rather not be for

person that we would rather not be for

person that we would rather not be for example anger greed even racism for

example anger greed even racism for

example anger greed even racism for instance I thought for many years of my

instance I thought for many years of my

instance I thought for many years of my life that I could avoid certain

life that I could avoid certain

life that I could avoid certain emotional groups altogether

emotional groups altogether

emotional groups altogether I was anger phobic and panicked and felt

I was anger phobic and panicked and felt

I was anger phobic and panicked and felt immense guilt and shame every time I

immense guilt and shame every time I

immense guilt and shame every time I would think an angry thought let alone

would think an angry thought let alone

would think an angry thought let alone express an angry behavior shadow expert

express an angry behavior shadow expert

express an angry behavior shadow expert Debbie Ford says that we can identify

Debbie Ford says that we can identify

Debbie Ford says that we can identify their shadow by what we judge in others

their shadow by what we judge in others

their shadow by what we judge in others and indeed I was judgmental of angry

and indeed I was judgmental of angry

and indeed I was judgmental of angry people I thought that somehow I was

people I thought that somehow I was

people I thought that somehow I was different than them that I just didn’t

different than them that I just didn’t

different than them that I just didn’t have this emotion but what I didn’t

have this emotion but what I didn’t

have this emotion but what I didn’t realize is that anger is an essential

realize is that anger is an essential

realize is that anger is an essential part of who I am

part of who I am

part of who I am but where do we find the value in

but where do we find the value in

but where do we find the value in something as uncomfortable as anger what

something as uncomfortable as anger what

something as uncomfortable as anger what about the anger that we feel in the face

about the anger that we feel in the face

about the anger that we feel in the face of an injustice that turns us in the

of an injustice that turns us in the

of an injustice that turns us in the direction of a clear alternative

direction of a clear alternative

direction of a clear alternative solution our anger takes us from a place

solution our anger takes us from a place

solution our anger takes us from a place of disempowerment to empowerment so how

of disempowerment to empowerment so how

of disempowerment to empowerment so how do we begin to embrace an even bigger

do we begin to embrace an even bigger

do we begin to embrace an even bigger shadow a shadow of racism racism can be

shadow a shadow of racism racism can be

shadow a shadow of racism racism can be understood as the rejection of the

understood as the rejection of the

understood as the rejection of the macrocosm of cultural diversity at large

macrocosm of cultural diversity at large

macrocosm of cultural diversity at large and as rooted in fear and powerlessness

and as rooted in fear and powerlessness

and as rooted in fear and powerlessness it is showing us that we have yet to

it is showing us that we have yet to

it is showing us that we have yet to embrace our inherent worth for simply

embrace our inherent worth for simply

embrace our inherent worth for simply being human beings because if we were to

being human beings because if we were to

being human beings because if we were to embrace that inherent worth we would

embrace that inherent worth we would

embrace that inherent worth we would have to acknowledge and embrace the

have to acknowledge and embrace the

have to acknowledge and embrace the inherent worth of all other human beings

inherent worth of all other human beings

inherent worth of all other human beings as well regardless of the flag of their

as well regardless of the flag of their

as well regardless of the flag of their nation or the color of the suit of their

nation or the color of the suit of their

nation or the color of the suit of their skin we all desire to feel

skin we all desire to feel

skin we all desire to feel free and empowered as we well should and

free and empowered as we well should and

free and empowered as we well should and racism is just a misunderstood attempt

racism is just a misunderstood attempt

racism is just a misunderstood attempt to access empowerment if you can find a

to access empowerment if you can find a

to access empowerment if you can find a reason such as skin color or culture to

reason such as skin color or culture to

reason such as skin color or culture to overpower another human being it may

overpower another human being it may

overpower another human being it may make you feel bigger powerful and

make you feel bigger powerful and

make you feel bigger powerful and stronger in that moment but you can

stronger in that moment but you can

stronger in that moment but you can never access your true power by trying

never access your true power by trying

never access your true power by trying to minimize somebody else’s power your

to minimize somebody else’s power your

to minimize somebody else’s power your true power is exponentially more

true power is exponentially more

true power is exponentially more powerful than that and it’s found in

powerful than that and it’s found in

powerful than that and it’s found in perhaps the counterintuitive opposite in

perhaps the counterintuitive opposite in

perhaps the counterintuitive opposite in the finding and creating of solutions

the finding and creating of solutions

the finding and creating of solutions that empower others around you

that empower others around you

that empower others around you journalist Robert Wright explains

journalist Robert Wright explains

journalist Robert Wright explains something called a nonzero-sum game

something called a nonzero-sum game

something called a nonzero-sum game meaning that the fortunes of nations are

meaning that the fortunes of nations are

meaning that the fortunes of nations are correlated and interdependent for better

correlated and interdependent for better

correlated and interdependent for better or for worse if we want to succeed we

or for worse if we want to succeed we

or for worse if we want to succeed we must also want others to succeed we

must also want others to succeed we

must also want others to succeed we cannot begin to imagine solutions that

cannot begin to imagine solutions that

cannot begin to imagine solutions that only benefit one group of people and

only benefit one group of people and

only benefit one group of people and expect them to last we are all better

expect them to last we are all better

expect them to last we are all better off when we create solutions that are

off when we create solutions that are

off when we create solutions that are win-win the danger in denying our shadow

win-win the danger in denying our shadow

win-win the danger in denying our shadow is that it numbs ourselves to our pain

is that it numbs ourselves to our pain

is that it numbs ourselves to our pain but it also numbs ourselves to the

but it also numbs ourselves to the

but it also numbs ourselves to the ability to feel compassion and

ability to feel compassion and

ability to feel compassion and connection and when we can’t feel the

connection and when we can’t feel the

connection and when we can’t feel the capacity to connect we feel numb to the

capacity to connect we feel numb to the

capacity to connect we feel numb to the atrocities that we see on the news and

atrocities that we see on the news and

atrocities that we see on the news and feel complacent and powerless to make a

feel complacent and powerless to make a

feel complacent and powerless to make a change we can begin to shed this

change we can begin to shed this

change we can begin to shed this numbness by becoming mindfully aware of

numbness by becoming mindfully aware of

numbness by becoming mindfully aware of what we are feeling without trying to

what we are feeling without trying to

what we are feeling without trying to push it away or numb it Buddhist nun

push it away or numb it Buddhist nun

push it away or numb it Buddhist nun Pema Chodron says that we can use all

Pema Chodron says that we can use all

Pema Chodron says that we can use all the unwanted things in our lives as the

the unwanted things in our lives as the

the unwanted things in our lives as the means for awakening compassion when we

means for awakening compassion when we

means for awakening compassion when we become aware of our inner shadow and

become aware of our inner shadow and

become aware of our inner shadow and embrace it with compassion we can also

embrace it with compassion we can also

embrace it with compassion we can also become aware of the shadows and others

become aware of the shadows and others

become aware of the shadows and others and embrace it with compassion as well

and embrace it with compassion as well

and embrace it with compassion as well the shadow is our doorway to unity in

the shadow is our doorway to unity in

the shadow is our doorway to unity in cultural

cultural

cultural diversity for is through the embracing

diversity for is through the embracing

diversity for is through the embracing of the microcosm of emotional diversity

of the microcosm of emotional diversity

of the microcosm of emotional diversity within ourselves that we gain the

within ourselves that we gain the

within ourselves that we gain the capacity to embrace the macrocosm of

capacity to embrace the macrocosm of

capacity to embrace the macrocosm of cultural diversity there is a huge range

cultural diversity there is a huge range

cultural diversity there is a huge range of culture represented right here in

of culture represented right here in

of culture represented right here in Bismarck I personally know people from

Bismarck I personally know people from

Bismarck I personally know people from Afghanistan Peru Colombia Congo Cameroon

Afghanistan Peru Colombia Congo Cameroon

Afghanistan Peru Colombia Congo Cameroon Kenya China to name a few

Kenya China to name a few

Kenya China to name a few I know community members that have been

I know community members that have been

I know community members that have been through the unspeakable atrocities of

through the unspeakable atrocities of

through the unspeakable atrocities of all-out war fled their home country to

all-out war fled their home country to

all-out war fled their home country to neighboring nations to seek refuge and

neighboring nations to seek refuge and

neighboring nations to seek refuge and spent decades of their lives in refugee

spent decades of their lives in refugee

spent decades of their lives in refugee camps where all of their children were

camps where all of their children were

camps where all of their children were born sometimes surviving on as little as

born sometimes surviving on as little as

born sometimes surviving on as little as one grain based meal per day sometimes

one grain based meal per day sometimes

one grain based meal per day sometimes less I would argue that these

less I would argue that these

less I would argue that these international community members know the

international community members know the

international community members know the value of peace just as anyone else who

value of peace just as anyone else who

value of peace just as anyone else who has been through war because they have

has been through war because they have

has been through war because they have experienced the contrasts of conflict

experienced the contrasts of conflict

experienced the contrasts of conflict they have incredible valuable

they have incredible valuable

they have incredible valuable perspective that can contribute to

perspective that can contribute to

perspective that can contribute to community oriented solutions however

community oriented solutions however

community oriented solutions however this amazing resource of perspective

this amazing resource of perspective

this amazing resource of perspective frequently goes untapped we are all

frequently goes untapped we are all

frequently goes untapped we are all living in the same geographical location

living in the same geographical location

living in the same geographical location oftentimes without seeing or

oftentimes without seeing or

oftentimes without seeing or acknowledging each other at all so in

acknowledging each other at all so in

acknowledging each other at all so in the spirit of creating a solution I’ve

the spirit of creating a solution I’ve

the spirit of creating a solution I’ve created a photography program called the

created a photography program called the

created a photography program called the human atlas of Bismarck the project

human atlas of Bismarck the project

human atlas of Bismarck the project simply provides a platform for

simply provides a platform for

simply provides a platform for international residents to be seen and

international residents to be seen and

international residents to be seen and heard in their own voice

heard in their own voice

heard in their own voice dissolving false misconceptions and

dissolving false misconceptions and

dissolving false misconceptions and prejudices and showing us what their

prejudices and showing us what their

prejudices and showing us what their positive perspective can add to our

positive perspective can add to our

positive perspective can add to our community

community

community take Familia for example originally from

take Familia for example originally from

take Familia for example originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and

the Democratic Republic of the Congo and

the Democratic Republic of the Congo and eventually Tanzania and mind you this is

eventually Tanzania and mind you this is

eventually Tanzania and mind you this is translated from Swahili

translated from Swahili

translated from Swahili what asked what her culture can

what asked what her culture can

what asked what her culture can contribute to our community she said

contribute to our community she said

contribute to our community she said first of all I can say about love to

first of all I can say about love to

first of all I can say about love to love each other for example you are my

love each other for example you are my

love each other for example you are my friend you love me I love you I can tell

friend you love me I love you I can tell

friend you love me I love you I can tell you something good you can tell me

you something good you can tell me

you something good you can tell me something good and we can all teach each

something good and we can all teach each

something good and we can all teach each other something good

other something good

other something good Tanzania people they have love and then

Tanzania people they have love and then

Tanzania people they have love and then deep from Nepal when asked why diversity

deep from Nepal when asked why diversity

deep from Nepal when asked why diversity in a community is important to him he

in a community is important to him he

in a community is important to him he said because it makes me feel that I am

said because it makes me feel that I am

said because it makes me feel that I am not the only one who is different and

not the only one who is different and

not the only one who is different and that is also my understanding that a

that is also my understanding that a

that is also my understanding that a diverse community is a welcoming

diverse community is a welcoming

diverse community is a welcoming community can you see yourself reflected

community can you see yourself reflected

community can you see yourself reflected in their stories and experiences what

in their stories and experiences what

in their stories and experiences what would the world be without this

would the world be without this

would the world be without this incredible diversity of cultures

incredible diversity of cultures

incredible diversity of cultures anthropologist Margaret Mead said that

anthropologist Margaret Mead said that

anthropologist Margaret Mead said that her greatest fear was as we drifted

her greatest fear was as we drifted

her greatest fear was as we drifted towards this bland ly amorphous generic

towards this bland ly amorphous generic

towards this bland ly amorphous generic worldview not only would we see the

worldview not only would we see the

worldview not only would we see the human imagination reduced to a more

human imagination reduced to a more

human imagination reduced to a more narrow modality of thought but we had

narrow modality of thought but we had

narrow modality of thought but we had awakened from a dream one day having

awakened from a dream one day having

awakened from a dream one day having forgotten there were even other

forgotten there were even other

forgotten there were even other possibilities cultures are constantly

possibilities cultures are constantly

possibilities cultures are constantly evolving we have the capacity to create

evolving we have the capacity to create

evolving we have the capacity to create whatever culture we want to right here

whatever culture we want to right here

whatever culture we want to right here in our community I envision a culture

in our community I envision a culture

in our community I envision a culture that embraces the microcosm and

that embraces the microcosm and

that embraces the microcosm and macrocosm of its diversity where we

macrocosm of its diversity where we

macrocosm of its diversity where we celebrate the multiplicity of worldviews

celebrate the multiplicity of worldviews

celebrate the multiplicity of worldviews and where we realize that there is a

and where we realize that there is a

and where we realize that there is a freedom when we recognize that life does

freedom when we recognize that life does

freedom when we recognize that life does not have to be lived in one way but that

not have to be lived in one way but that

not have to be lived in one way but that we are truly limitless to be ourselves

so I have three action steps for you to

so I have three action steps for you to take home today to begin embracing

take home today to begin embracing

take home today to begin embracing diversity first is to embrace the

diversity first is to embrace the

diversity first is to embrace the microcosm of your inner diversity the

microcosm of your inner diversity the

microcosm of your inner diversity the microcosm of your emotional diversity

microcosm of your emotional diversity

microcosm of your emotional diversity through self-awareness you can in

through self-awareness you can in

through self-awareness you can in your shadow with compassion and

your shadow with compassion and

your shadow with compassion and acknowledge your inherent worth as a

acknowledge your inherent worth as a

acknowledge your inherent worth as a human being which leads us into step to

human being which leads us into step to

human being which leads us into step to embrace the macrocosm of cultural

embrace the macrocosm of cultural

embrace the macrocosm of cultural diversity acknowledge inherent worth of

diversity acknowledge inherent worth of

diversity acknowledge inherent worth of all other people as well and do

all other people as well and do

all other people as well and do something as simple as reaching out and

something as simple as reaching out and

something as simple as reaching out and having a conversation joining an

having a conversation joining an

having a conversation joining an organization and simply at the very

organization and simply at the very

organization and simply at the very least advocate for internationals in our

least advocate for internationals in our

least advocate for internationals in our community and third is to step into your

community and third is to step into your

community and third is to step into your true purpose in power which we now know

true purpose in power which we now know

true purpose in power which we now know is in the finding and creating of

is in the finding and creating of

is in the finding and creating of solutions that empower others around you

solutions that empower others around you

solutions that empower others around you the factors that divide humanity at

the factors that divide humanity at

the factors that divide humanity at large are the same that divide us within

large are the same that divide us within

large are the same that divide us within the solution is found when we embrace

the solution is found when we embrace

the solution is found when we embrace our contrast which opens the door for us

our contrast which opens the door for us

our contrast which opens the door for us to step into our true purpose and power

to step into our true purpose and power

to step into our true purpose and power creating solutions to empower others are

creating solutions to empower others are

creating solutions to empower others are you holding yourself away from your

you holding yourself away from your

you holding yourself away from your purpose by ruminating powerlessly in the

purpose by ruminating powerlessly in the

purpose by ruminating powerlessly in the contrast in your life or are you using

contrast in your life or are you using

contrast in your life or are you using the contrast to propel you to your

the contrast to propel you to your

the contrast to propel you to your greatest limitless solution creating

greatest limitless solution creating

greatest limitless solution creating potential thank you

potential thank you

potential thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]