Should children in public schools be “spared” the knowledge of the history of segregation, slavery, and the fact that Rosa Parks was Black?

Listen to my conversation about this with Chad Lassiter

Hear what Chad Lassiter has to say on my recent podcast guest on “Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People,” www.raceconvo.com. Chad is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Rights, a global expert on racial relations, and a member of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.

 If you want to empower people of all ages to eliminate racism and other forms of inequality, then you need to listen to this episode of Everyday Conversation Race for Everyday People. https://raceconvo.com/race-peace-and-poverty-a-conversation-with-chad-lassiter/

Stop the Pretense

With so much foolishness about not even mentioning cultural/racial differences and pretending everyone is the same while erasing non-white people, it’s essential that we share and talk about our identities and culture. This is how we can find common ground and learn and grow together. Chad says these conversations will help us all find a balance between preserving individuality and being open to connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. No one is just one identity, and it would be very boring to pretend otherwise.

Listen in to hear how his perspective on race changed  interacting with people outside the all-Black community in which he was raised.

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Empower All Of Our Children

With school boards and politicians, not only eliminating African-American history and any discussion of racial discrimination under the guise of making white children feel uncomfortable, Chad says, “We need to find ways to flip the script and empower all children, including white children, to be agents of change.” While acknowledging concerns about discomfort, “We can help children see that they have the power to contribute to a more just and equal society. By engaging in these conversations, children can recognize each other’s humanity and understand their role in promoting peace and justice”.

Chad and I talk about the concept of cultural pride reinforcement, particularly within the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. Cultural pride does not entail valuing one culture over another but rather celebrating and affirming the importance of one’s own culture while also respecting and acknowledging the significance of other cultures. This supports the notion that maintaining one’s identity and culture does not necessitate rejecting or disregarding others.

Listen in as we touch on the significance of having conversations about race, racism, and other issues that some may see as divisive. 

While recognizing the importance of addressing these topics, we also need to incorporate discussions around peace, justice, truth, love, and kindness. That’s how a more inclusive and compassionate society can be created. Without that, we’ll be even more divided racially and in every other way

With the right information and education, our children can be the solution to ending all forms of hate. Listen to the episode on www.raceconvo.com or on any of your favorite podcast platforms.

Guest Bio

Chad Dion Lassiter is a national expert in the field of American Race Relations. Mr. Lassiter has worked on race, peace, and poverty-related issues in the United States of America, Africa, Canada, Haiti, Israel, and Norway, and is called upon frequently by media outlets to provide commentary on race relations and potential solutions.

He is the current executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, where he has legislatively delegated authority to investigate complaints filed alleging unlawful discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and commercial property, education and/or public accommodations. During his capacity in this position, he has developed and launched a ‘No Hate in Our State Townhall’ to address the surge of White nationalism in Pennsylvania, a ‘Social Justice Lecture Series’ providing an outlet for the communities in the state to discuss imperative issues and serves as a Racial Reduction Response team for those communities impacted by hatred. He oversees a staff of 84 with three regional offices that comprise the 67 counties in Pennsylvania and manages an annual budget of $12 million. He has also developed programs under his appointment, such as a ‘Global Social Justice Initiative’, ‘Black and Jewish Beloved Community Dialogue’, and the ‘College Race Dialogue Initiative.’