Key Takeaways

• The concept of ‘your because’ is more powerful than ‘your why’ in driving sustained action and purpose.
• Addressing racial inequity requires both internal introspection and external action, including leveraging resources and ancestral wisdom.
• Building coalitions across diverse groups is essential for driving societal change, even when political motivations are complex.
• Courageous conversations about race are vital, and they require a willingness to engage with differing perspectives and understand power dynamics.
• Personal growth and societal progress often occur in uncomfortable spaces, necessitating a proactive approach rather than waiting for external validation or heroes.

Segments

Glenn Singleton’s ‘Because’ and Historical Context (~00:05:00)

• Key Takeaway: Glenn Singleton’s ‘because’ is rooted in a sense of responsibility to ensure that the progress made by previous generations is not lost, drawing from a history of oppression and resilience.
• Summary: Glenn Singleton shares his ‘because,’ emphasizing the journey of his ancestors and the responsibility he feels to continue the progress made, ensuring that the ‘black baton’ is not heavier for the next generation. He connects this to the abundance of resources available today, including modern technology and ancestral wisdom.

W. Kamal Bell’s ‘Because’ and the ‘Black Baton’ (~00:07:00)

• Key Takeaway: W. Kamal Bell’s motivation stems from a desire to make the world easier for his mixed-race daughters and to lighten the ‘black baton’ passed down through generations.
• Summary: W. Kamal Bell explains his ‘because’ as a responsibility to his three mixed-race daughters, likening the passing of societal challenges and progress to a ‘black baton.’ He feels a duty to ensure this baton is not heavier for his children than it was for him, drawing from his upbringing where making things easier for others was a given.

Sparking Conversations and Leveraging Resources (~00:12:00)

• Key Takeaway: To spark internal and external conversations about race, it’s crucial to acknowledge current resources, including technological advancements and the efforts of previous generations, and to direct them towards community needs like education.
• Summary: The discussion shifts to how to initiate conversations about race, with Glenn Singleton emphasizing the availability of new technologies like AI and the accumulated wealth from past generations. He stresses the importance of directing these resources towards critical issues like the third-grade reading level disparities in black children.

Raising Children with Awareness and Activism (~00:18:00)

• Key Takeaway: Children can be raised to be aware of societal issues and engage in activism through open household conversations, exposure to parents’ work, and encouraging them to use their voices, even in small ways.
• Summary: W. Kamal Bell discusses how he raises his children to be aware of the world, encouraging them to speak out and engage in activism, citing his daughter’s efforts to teach ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at her school as an example. He emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of justice and the ability to defend oneself or others.

Glenn Singleton’s ‘Beyond Diversity’ Framework (~00:25:00)

• Key Takeaway: The ‘Beyond Diversity’ framework, developed over 30 years, focuses on racial introspection and understanding the impact of race on individual lives and communities to achieve racial equity.
• Summary: Glenn Singleton elaborates on his ‘Beyond Diversity’ framework, which he developed over 30 years ago. He explains that it begins with looking inward and asking critical questions about race’s impact on one’s life and community, aiming to move beyond defensiveness and fear towards understanding the power inherent in these conversations.

The Personal Impact of Glenn Singleton’s Work (~00:32:00)

• Key Takeaway: Glenn Singleton’s work has had a profound personal impact on the host, Mick, who felt compelled to excel to overcome systemic barriers, a drive fostered by Singleton’s early influence.
• Summary: The host, Mick, shares a personal story about how Glenn Singleton’s work influenced him during his formative years. Mick felt the need to be the best to secure scholarships for college, a drive that stemmed from understanding the systemic challenges faced by those who looked like him.

The ‘Who’s With Me’ Tour and Hollywood’s DEI Backlash (~00:40:00)

• Key Takeaway: W. Kamal Bell’s ‘Who’s With Me’ tour and Substack emerged from a period of backlash against DEI initiatives in Hollywood, leading to the cancellation of projects and a need to build a personal coalition.
• Summary: W. Kamal Bell discusses his ‘Who’s With Me’ tour and Substack, explaining how Hollywood’s reaction to DEI post-George Floyd’s murder, followed by strikes, led to many projects being shelved. He felt a need to create his own platform to find and connect with people who share his vision.

Building Coalitions and Political Engagement (~00:50:00)

• Key Takeaway: Effective societal change requires building broad coalitions, understanding that politicians often act out of self-interest or external pressure, and that sustained activism is key to driving policy.
• Summary: The conversation turns to the nature of political engagement and coalition building. Both guests discuss how historical figures like LBJ were pushed into action by movements like the Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing that politicians often respond to pressure and that true change comes from collective action rather than waiting for a single leader.

Starting Courageous Conversations (~01:05:00)

• Key Takeaway: Initiating courageous conversations about race involves establishing a personal relationship with racial justice, being open to dialogue with those who have different experiences, and understanding race as a symbol of power and hierarchy.
• Summary: Glenn Singleton provides advice on how to start courageous conversations, stressing the importance of personal commitment to racial justice, being open to diverse perspectives, and understanding the systemic nature of race and power. He encourages listeners to move beyond superficial understandings to grasp the underlying power dynamics.

Overcoming Fear of Saying the Wrong Thing (~01:10:00)

• Key Takeaway: To overcome the fear of saying the wrong thing, one should cultivate a supportive friend group that offers loving correction and embrace the idea that true change happens in uncomfortable spaces.
• Summary: W. Kamal Bell advises listeners who fear saying the wrong thing to audit their friend groups and seek out people who can offer loving correction (‘calling in’). He emphasizes that discomfort is a necessary part of growth and change, drawing parallels to historical figures who pushed boundaries.

Finding Guests and Closing Remarks (~01:15:00)

• Key Takeaway: Listeners can find Glenn Singleton at courageousconversation.com and W. Kamal Bell via his Substack ‘Who’s With Me’ and his ‘Who’s With Me’ comedy tour.
• Summary: The episode concludes with the host thanking Glenn Singleton and W. Kamal Bell, and providing information on where listeners can find them and their work. Glenn Singleton directs people to his website and social media, while W. Kamal Bell highlights his Substack and upcoming tour dates.