TBN #35
You have more impact than you know
Hi friend,
Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) did THE MOST. From decisions on affirmative action to lawful discrimination of LGBTQIAS+ folks to student loan forgiveness. And brace yourself…gun rights are next on the docket.
While it was disheartening to hear the decisions, I choose to remain hopeful. Hope shouldn’t wane in the face of challenges but instead, hope should grow from it.
Whether you realize it or not, you and I have more impact than you know. I’ll say it again. You have more impact than you know.
When I hear news like this, I always think to myself: what can I do? I can help those who care about making our society a more inclusive, equitable, and just place. One of the ways, I do that is by creating tools and resources for DEI professionals and those who care about DEI. That’s why I decided to provide more guides and tools on my website. It’s official; the SHOP is officially open! You can find helpful guides to help you write effective diversity statements and to master DEI interview questions or send your statement in for review. Checkout the SHOP page and share it with a friend because we all know someone who needs this.
While you’re on the page, think about your impact and how these tools may help you. I’ll be checking in with you throughout this month. Hopefully this message gets you inspired.
Let’s get into it…
WEEKLY UPDATE
CLIFF NOTES: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
Watch out Twitter, a new app is in town - Black-Owned social platform Spill becomes Twitter's rival
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was passed. Here’s what you should know.
Playing explicit music in the workplace can be treated as discrimination, US court rules
July is Disability Pride Month, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and South Asian American Heritage Month (begins on July 18)
Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) (July 9)
BENTON’S BASICS: SLANG OR SLURS?
Long story short…
In honor of Disability Pride Month, I’m sharing three (3) slang words that should be reconsidered in our daily vocabulary. Here’s insight from National Center on Disability and Journalism (NCDJ):
(1) Crazy
Background: These words were once commonly used to describe people with mental illness but are now considered offensive. They are still used in a variety of contexts but should be avoided.
NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use these words, particularly when reporting on mental illness, unless they are part of a quote that is essential to the story.
(2) Dumb
Background: “Dumb” was once widely used to describe a person who could not speak and implied the person was incapable of expressing himself or herself; it eventually came to be synonymous with “silent.”
“Deaf-mute” was traditionally used to refer to people who can neither speak nor hear in traditional ways. However, people with speech and hearing disabilities are capable of expressing themselves in writing, through sign language and in other ways. Additionally, a person who does not use speech may be able to hear.
NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid these terms as they often are used inaccurately and can be offensive. It is acceptable to refer to someone as deaf or hard of hearing. If possible, ask the person which is preferable. Mute and dumb imply that communication is not possible. Instead, be as specific as possible. If someone uses American Sign Language, lip-reads or uses other means to communicate, state that.
(3) Lame
Background: Lame is a word commonly used to describe difficulty walking as the result of an injury to the leg. Many people object to the use of the word to describe a physical condition because it is used in colloquial English as a synonym for weak, as in: “That’s a lame excuse.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “lamebrain” as “a dull-witted person.”
NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using “lame” or “lamebrain” to describe a person except in a quote. In the case of a leg injury, explain instead that an injury resulted in difficulty walking.
Source: The Disability Language Style Guide (in English, Spanish, and Italian)
STUDY HALL: STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSION
There’s a lot of chatter about last week’s SCOTUS decisions. I believe in going straight to the source. Here’s the official briefing from SCOTUS.
HOMEWORK: reimagining the world
What I’m Reading This Month 📚: It’s officially summer and I’m switching up what I read. My pick for this month is Nightcrawling: A novel by Leila Mottley. If it’s good enough for Oprah, then it’s good enough for me.
What I’m Watching 📺: A 3-Step Guide to Believing in Yourself. My favorite quote from the video: “We need a checkup from the neck up.” Watch it to see what I’m talking about.
What I’m Wearing on the Plane ✈️: Is it a jacket? Is it a blanket? It’s comfy.
DANCE BREAK: DANCE THE NIGHT
When dance is in the title, you have t do what it says. Listen (and dance) to the song.
Listen to the full TBN playlist.
DOUBLE TAP: WHO I’M FOLLOWING
Latinx Therapists Network is a national directory for Latinx Therapists in private practice. Visit their website to learn more.
I’d love to hear from you!
What do you need to be better in work and in life? Send me a message or connect with me on social.
