New guide for talking to people of different race in the workplace

[TallPaul1878]

So GMB has just shown the author of a new guide book that is supposed to help employees to "talk to people of different races"

It lists a number of key do's and don'ts.

One of the points was "don't ask where do you really come from?" When a black or Asian person says they are English.

Interestingly there were 3 black male guests and all of them had a problem with this guide book. All of them said they like having people enquire as of their origins and have the opportunity to talk about race and heritage.

This booklet does not help to ease relations with people of different backgrounds, it increases the trepidation and makes people more afraid of saying the wrong things in fear of causing offense.

Most times people are only enquiring about skin colour for the same reason they would enquire about a regional accent. This is how friendships are formed, by taking an interest in each other. Making people afraid of starting these conversations puts a stop to that.

 

[Ayahuasca]

I've worked alongside black and asian people and never heard anyone ask "Where do you really come from?" if you're asking questions like that then a book on basic social skills would probably be of more help.

 

[JohnnyG]

I'm bored with race and immigration threads as generally they're just posted to stir and antagonise, take them somewhere else if you want to discuss them.