[Applause] I’d like to begin my talk with an audio
I’d like to begin my talk with an audio
I’d like to begin my talk with an audio clip of a protest and counter protests
clip of a protest and counter protests
clip of a protest and counter protests that recently took place in our city
the noise that just filled this room is
the noise that just filled this room is of me standing in complete chaos in that
of me standing in complete chaos in that
of me standing in complete chaos in that moment I witnessed our system of
moment I witnessed our system of
moment I witnessed our system of communication breaking down and every
communication breaking down and every
communication breaking down and every word that anyone has said was entirely
word that anyone has said was entirely
word that anyone has said was entirely meaningless as a society we know
meaningless as a society we know
meaningless as a society we know communication is important but we’re
communication is important but we’re
communication is important but we’re also challenged by it we’re challenged
also challenged by it we’re challenged
also challenged by it we’re challenged by conversations and the result of that
by conversations and the result of that
by conversations and the result of that challenge particularly in this case is a
challenge particularly in this case is a
challenge particularly in this case is a futile effort because the person who
futile effort because the person who
futile effort because the person who gets their message across is not who
gets their message across is not who
gets their message across is not who screams the loudest and I would argue
screams the loudest and I would argue
screams the loudest and I would argue that communication to a human life is as
that communication to a human life is as
that communication to a human life is as important as breathing our ability to
important as breathing our ability to
important as breathing our ability to process send and receive information is
process send and receive information is
process send and receive information is not just an example of our capability
not just an example of our capability
not just an example of our capability but our evolves form of being in the
but our evolves form of being in the
but our evolves form of being in the field of communications there’s a
field of communications there’s a
field of communications there’s a frequently used phrase attributed to
frequently used phrase attributed to
frequently used phrase attributed to Marshall McLuhan which says the medium
Marshall McLuhan which says the medium
Marshall McLuhan which says the medium is a message meaning it’s not what we
is a message meaning it’s not what we
is a message meaning it’s not what we say but the way we say it that matters
say but the way we say it that matters
say but the way we say it that matters most so in essence the words that I’m
most so in essence the words that I’m
most so in essence the words that I’m saying right now are really not as
saying right now are really not as
saying right now are really not as important as the way I’m choosing to say
important as the way I’m choosing to say
important as the way I’m choosing to say them if we look at Twitter as the medium
them if we look at Twitter as the medium
them if we look at Twitter as the medium we know that users are limited to a few
we know that users are limited to a few
we know that users are limited to a few characters and the intent is to tap into
characters and the intent is to tap into
characters and the intent is to tap into our short-term attention spans the
our short-term attention spans the
our short-term attention spans the medium for Twitter is the message of
medium for Twitter is the message of
medium for Twitter is the message of efficiency and urgency I have a theory
efficiency and urgency I have a theory
efficiency and urgency I have a theory and today I’d like to present it to you
and today I’d like to present it to you
and today I’d like to present it to you and that theory is called chaos
and that theory is called chaos
and that theory is called chaos communication a key obstacle in having
communication a key obstacle in having
communication a key obstacle in having genuine
genuine
genuine understanding and empathy between people
understanding and empathy between people
understanding and empathy between people chaos communication is the direct result
chaos communication is the direct result
chaos communication is the direct result of the cognitive biases that we all have
of the cognitive biases that we all have
of the cognitive biases that we all have and use to operate within the world but
and use to operate within the world but
and use to operate within the world but I want to make it clear from the start
I want to make it clear from the start
I want to make it clear from the start chaos communication isn’t going anywhere
chaos communication isn’t going anywhere
chaos communication isn’t going anywhere it doesn’t need to be eliminated but
it doesn’t need to be eliminated but
it doesn’t need to be eliminated but rather transformed
rather transformed
rather transformed and one way to do this is through
and one way to do this is through
and one way to do this is through meaningful dialogue now meaningful
meaningful dialogue now meaningful
meaningful dialogue now meaningful dialogue may sound cliche but really
dialogue may sound cliche but really
dialogue may sound cliche but really saying the term and acting on the term
saying the term and acting on the term
saying the term and acting on the term are two very different things let’s
are two very different things let’s
are two very different things let’s think back on the audio clip we just
think back on the audio clip we just
think back on the audio clip we just heard one side is from a white
heard one side is from a white
heard one side is from a white nationalist white supremacist pectus
nationalist white supremacist pectus
nationalist white supremacist pectus while another from an anti-fascist I’d
while another from an anti-fascist I’d
while another from an anti-fascist I’d like to tell you three factors that
like to tell you three factors that
like to tell you three factors that contribute to chaos communication and
contribute to chaos communication and
contribute to chaos communication and hinder meaningful dialogue with an
hinder meaningful dialogue with an
hinder meaningful dialogue with an example of Derrick black so who’s Derek
example of Derrick black so who’s Derek
example of Derrick black so who’s Derek black Derek black is an American guy who
black Derek black is an American guy who
black Derek black is an American guy who just happens to be the son of Don Black
just happens to be the son of Don Black
just happens to be the son of Don Black Don is the former Grand Wizard of the
Don is the former Grand Wizard of the
Don is the former Grand Wizard of the KKK and also the founder of Stormfront
KKK and also the founder of Stormfront
KKK and also the founder of Stormfront org the world’s most racist online form
org the world’s most racist online form
org the world’s most racist online form I think you can imagine Derrick growing
I think you can imagine Derrick growing
I think you can imagine Derrick growing up with a lot of established norms about
up with a lot of established norms about
up with a lot of established norms about people of color and he felt they were
people of color and he felt they were
people of color and he felt they were true based on his experiences the media
true based on his experiences the media
true based on his experiences the media has upbringing family and so much more
has upbringing family and so much more
has upbringing family and so much more he had genuine belief in white supremacy
he had genuine belief in white supremacy
he had genuine belief in white supremacy and Derrick was also a smart guy he read
and Derrick was also a smart guy he read
and Derrick was also a smart guy he read up on numerous books and studies that
up on numerous books and studies that
up on numerous books and studies that supported white supremacy so that’s
supported white supremacy so that’s
supported white supremacy so that’s Derek now let’s get into the factors of
Derek now let’s get into the factors of
Derek now let’s get into the factors of chaos communication the first is that we
chaos communication the first is that we
chaos communication the first is that we as human beings are generally
as human beings are generally
as human beings are generally comfortable with our understanding of
comfortable with our understanding of
comfortable with our understanding of the world complexity is uncomfortable
the world complexity is uncomfortable
the world complexity is uncomfortable and we don’t like discomfort Derek grew
and we don’t like discomfort Derek grew
and we don’t like discomfort Derek grew up in a genuine and comfortable world of
up in a genuine and comfortable world of
up in a genuine and comfortable world of white supremacy it favored him so why
white supremacy it favored him so why
white supremacy it favored him so why would he step out of his comfort zone
would he step out of his comfort zone
would he step out of his comfort zone and the reality was that negative labels
and the reality was that negative labels
and the reality was that negative labels and backlash against him or people in
and backlash against him or people in
and backlash against him or people in his community actually just brought him
his community actually just brought him
his community actually just brought him closer to others who identified as a
closer to others who identified as a
closer to others who identified as a supremest so really to get Derek out of
supremest so really to get Derek out of
supremest so really to get Derek out of his comfort zone he needed a different
his comfort zone he needed a different
his comfort zone he needed a different approach a less shameful approach an
approach a less shameful approach an
approach a less shameful approach an approach that he could really reflect on
approach that he could really reflect on
approach that he could really reflect on his choices and guess what
his choices and guess what
his choices and guess what that’s exactly what happened to him
that’s exactly what happened to him
that’s exactly what happened to him while attending college away from his
while attending college away from his
while attending college away from his family’s home he was sort of living
family’s home he was sort of living
family’s home he was sort of living double lives not really telling the
double lives not really telling the
double lives not really telling the truth about his identity or his beliefs
truth about his identity or his beliefs
truth about his identity or his beliefs and he was outed the entire college
and he was outed the entire college
and he was outed the entire college found out that he was a white supremists
found out that he was a white supremists
found out that he was a white supremists and in that moment an individual reached
and in that moment an individual reached
and in that moment an individual reached out to Derrick and invited him to a
out to Derrick and invited him to a
out to Derrick and invited him to a community dinner an ethnic community
community dinner an ethnic community
community dinner an ethnic community dinner and the intent of this individual
dinner and the intent of this individual
dinner and the intent of this individual wasn’t to change Derrick or even to
wasn’t to change Derrick or even to
wasn’t to change Derrick or even to convert Derrick but rather hey Derrick
convert Derrick but rather hey Derrick
convert Derrick but rather hey Derrick if you’re gonna talk about our community
if you’re gonna talk about our community
if you’re gonna talk about our community why not get to know us first and it was
why not get to know us first and it was
why not get to know us first and it was in that moment that sparked the change
in that moment that sparked the change
in that moment that sparked the change that sparked that dialogue and from
that sparked that dialogue and from
that sparked that dialogue and from there on for months and months
there on for months and months
there on for months and months Derrick spent time talking to people
Derrick spent time talking to people
Derrick spent time talking to people learning researching engaging and having
learning researching engaging and having
learning researching engaging and having those meaningful conversations and he
those meaningful conversations and he
those meaningful conversations and he slowly gradually over time started to
slowly gradually over time started to
slowly gradually over time started to remove false opinions from himself to a
remove false opinions from himself to a
remove false opinions from himself to a point where he was completely changed he
point where he was completely changed he
point where he was completely changed he had different ideals he had different
had different ideals he had different
had different ideals he had different ideologies different beliefs so why
ideologies different beliefs so why
ideologies different beliefs so why can’t we all change like Derrick and
can’t we all change like Derrick and
can’t we all change like Derrick and this leads us to a second point that we
this leads us to a second point that we
this leads us to a second point that we have a fear of change change is hard and
have a fear of change change is hard and
have a fear of change change is hard and sometimes it requires us to think that
sometimes it requires us to think that
sometimes it requires us to think that maybe we’re not as right as we think we
maybe we’re not as right as we think we
maybe we’re not as right as we think we are and that’s not always a fun journey
are and that’s not always a fun journey
are and that’s not always a fun journey to have or an easy one Derrick grew up
to have or an easy one Derrick grew up
to have or an easy one Derrick grew up in a genuine world of white supremacy
in a genuine world of white supremacy
in a genuine world of white supremacy can you imagine coming out of that can
can you imagine coming out of that can
can you imagine coming out of that can you imagine coming out of your ideal
you imagine coming out of your ideal
you imagine coming out of your ideal world your genuine world because what it
world your genuine world because what it
world your genuine world because what it means is to betray to betray your entire
means is to betray to betray your entire
means is to betray to betray your entire community your upbringing your family
community your upbringing your family
community your upbringing your family your friends and that’s exactly what
your friends and that’s exactly what
your friends and that’s exactly what Derrick did and his relationship with
Derrick did and his relationship with
Derrick did and his relationship with his community particularly his father
his community particularly his father
his community particularly his father was completely altered so through
was completely altered so through
was completely altered so through Erik’s example we know that it’s very
Erik’s example we know that it’s very
Erik’s example we know that it’s very possible to overcome this fear of change
possible to overcome this fear of change
possible to overcome this fear of change but when engaging in this change it’s
but when engaging in this change it’s
but when engaging in this change it’s incredibly important to remember to meet
incredibly important to remember to meet
incredibly important to remember to meet people where they are everyone will have
people where they are everyone will have
people where they are everyone will have their own journey somes will look
their own journey somes will look
their own journey somes will look different some will take longer some
different some will take longer some
different some will take longer some will take shorter and that’s completely
will take shorter and that’s completely
will take shorter and that’s completely fine we don’t have to rush the process
fine we don’t have to rush the process
fine we don’t have to rush the process but we do need to engage in that process
but we do need to engage in that process
but we do need to engage in that process to overcome that fear of change because
to overcome that fear of change because
to overcome that fear of change because sometimes fear comes with ambiguity and
sometimes fear comes with ambiguity and
sometimes fear comes with ambiguity and this leads us to our last point that we
this leads us to our last point that we
this leads us to our last point that we have difficulty dealing with ambiguity
something vague doesn’t always make
something vague doesn’t always make sense and it can challenge your way of
sense and it can challenge your way of
sense and it can challenge your way of thinking that maybe there’s more than
thinking that maybe there’s more than
thinking that maybe there’s more than one truth and the ideas of Western
one truth and the ideas of Western
one truth and the ideas of Western society in particular are really based
society in particular are really based
society in particular are really based off of procedures protocols measurements
off of procedures protocols measurements
off of procedures protocols measurements we have systems in place for everything
we have systems in place for everything
we have systems in place for everything so really ambiguity is not something we
so really ambiguity is not something we
so really ambiguity is not something we like or are even trained for it’s so
like or are even trained for it’s so
like or are even trained for it’s so much easier to side with things that we
much easier to side with things that we
much easier to side with things that we think we understand and for Derek if it
think we understand and for Derek if it
think we understand and for Derek if it wasn’t for the understanding peers that
wasn’t for the understanding peers that
wasn’t for the understanding peers that he met through college that really gave
he met through college that really gave
he met through college that really gave him a chance to challenge his way of
him a chance to challenge his way of
him a chance to challenge his way of thinking while being respectful he
thinking while being respectful he
thinking while being respectful he wouldn’t have come to where he is now
wouldn’t have come to where he is now
wouldn’t have come to where he is now a former white nationalist a former
a former white nationalist a former
a former white nationalist a former white supremists an activist these three
white supremists an activist these three
white supremists an activist these three factors have one thing in common and
factors have one thing in common and
factors have one thing in common and that’s resistance resistance to thinking
that’s resistance resistance to thinking
that’s resistance resistance to thinking that we may be wrong that our values and
that we may be wrong that our values and
that we may be wrong that our values and our perspectives may not tell the whole
our perspectives may not tell the whole
our perspectives may not tell the whole story and that’s a very valid
story and that’s a very valid
story and that’s a very valid conversation to have in our postmodern
conversation to have in our postmodern
conversation to have in our postmodern world because once we start
world because once we start
world because once we start understanding what’s influencing our way
understanding what’s influencing our way
understanding what’s influencing our way of thinking we can start breaking down
of thinking we can start breaking down
of thinking we can start breaking down those barriers we can start having those
those barriers we can start having those
those barriers we can start having those meaningful conversations my solution to
meaningful conversations my solution to
meaningful conversations my solution to chaos communication is in Kim su ghee
chaos communication is in Kim su ghee
chaos communication is in Kim su ghee the Japanese art form that symbolizes
the Japanese art form that symbolizes
the Japanese art form that symbolizes that repair requires transformation in
that repair requires transformation in
that repair requires transformation in kansui broken pottery the cracks they’re
kansui broken pottery the cracks they’re
kansui broken pottery the cracks they’re filled with gold in
filled with gold in
filled with gold in silver in chaos communication we fill
silver in chaos communication we fill
silver in chaos communication we fill these gaps with meaningful dialogue none
these gaps with meaningful dialogue none
these gaps with meaningful dialogue none of us are immune to the bad in this
of us are immune to the bad in this
of us are immune to the bad in this world and we have to embrace our
world and we have to embrace our
world and we have to embrace our brokenness we have to embrace our
brokenness we have to embrace our
brokenness we have to embrace our history chaos communication needs to be
history chaos communication needs to be
history chaos communication needs to be embraced in order to transform it and so
embraced in order to transform it and so
embraced in order to transform it and so in the words of Ernest Hemingway the
in the words of Ernest Hemingway the
in the words of Ernest Hemingway the world breaks everyone and afterward many
world breaks everyone and afterward many
world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places thank
are strong in the broken places thank
are strong in the broken places thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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