"Open-hearted and constructive, Say the Right Thing is a crucial read for anyone seeking the words to put their values into the world."
Say the Right Thing
How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice
Description
A Living Now Book Awards Gold Medalist, Social Activism/Charity
A practical, shame-free guide for navigating conversations across our differences at a time of rapid social change.
In the current period of social and political unrest, conversations about identity are becoming more frequent and more difficult. On subjects like critical race theory, gender equity in the workplace, and LGBTQ-inclusive classrooms, many of us are understandably fearful of saying the wrong thing. That fear can sometimes prevent us from speaking up at all, depriving people from marginalized groups of support and stalling progress toward a more just and inclusive society.
Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, founders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, are here to show potential allies that these conversations don’t have to be so overwhelming. Through stories drawn from contexts as varied as social media posts, dinner party conversations, and workplace disputes, they offer seven user-friendly principles that teach skills such as how to avoid common conversational pitfalls, engage in respectful disagreement, offer authentic apologies, and better support people in our lives who experience bias.
Research-backed, accessible, and uplifting, Say the Right Thing charts a pathway out of cancel culture toward more meaningful and empathetic dialogue on issues of identity. It also gives us the practical tools to do good in our spheres of influence. Whether managing diverse teams at work, navigating issues of inclusion at college, or challenging biased comments at a family barbecue, Yoshino and Glasgow help us move from unconsciously hurting people to consciously helping them.
Reviews
“Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. This book is an utterly transformative guide to building an inclusive culture—one conversation at a time.”
“Clear-eyed, rigorous, humane, but most importantly wise. Say the Right Thing manages to be both righteous and kind, which is the combination we all need.”
“Yoshino and Glasgow’s book could not come at a better moment. Increasingly, our democracy and our future depend on our capacity to talk to one another, come to greater understanding, and act together to advance the cause of justice. In offering readers these skills, Say the Right Thing is a critical tool for a challenging time.”