Episode 50: Conversation on Race w Damona Hoffman
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
Release Date: 03/19/2020
Black Modern Elder Academy: Creating a Space for Authenticity and Diverse Experiences
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
The Modern Elder Academy, is a space for healing, self-reflection, and personal transformation for the “Modern Elder.” It helps people redefine what it means to be a modern elder and make choices about the next phase of their lives. So, if this need is true for everyone, why is there a need for a week just for Black people? In this conversation on race, my guests and the founder, Chip Conley answer this question. My guests are Wanda Whitaker, Dr. Diane Johnson and Cassius Johnson. Hear about the significance of listening to intuition and paying attention to physical sensations in personal...
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From Guilt to Empowerment: Your Role in Dismantling Racism
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
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Unpacking Identity, Race, and Representation in Crime Fiction
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this episode, Simma Lieberman The Inclusionist, interviews Ed Aymar, an award-winning author known for his multicultural crime thrillers. Ed, originally from Panama, shares insights into his background, military upbringing, and how he got into writing. The conversation explores the intersection of race, culture, and storytelling in the context of crime fiction. They discuss Ed Aymar's acclaimed works, such as No Home for Killers and When She Left," highlighting his unique perspective as a multicultural crime thriller writer. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on...
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A Black Executive Perspective on Race in Corporate America
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this episode of "Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People," Simma sits down with Tony Franklin, also known as Tony Tidbit, the Vice President of Advertising, Sales, and Client Partnerships at DirecTV. Tony shares his personal experiences as a Black executive in corporate America and discusses the importance of open and honest conversations about race. Simma and Tony discuss the challenges faced by people of color in corporate America, including the pressure to assimilate and the fear of being labeled as "too aggressive." Tony shares a personal story about trying to fit in by...
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Cancel Culture Unmasking the Dangers of Instant Judgment and Outrage
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this thought-provoking podcast episode, Simma, the Inclusionist, engages in a candid conversation with Patricia Mushim Ikeda, a Japanese-American Buddhist and mindfulness teacher, and Joel Davis Brown, an African-American man who is an author, an organizational development consultant and spoken word artist. Together, they delve into the controversial topic of cancel culture, exploring its impact on society and the importance of fostering dialogue across racial and ideological divides. The episode begins by addressing the viral nature of outrage and disgust on social media,...
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From Conflict to Compassion: Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Leaders Share Their Perspectives on the Israel-Gaza Crisis
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this powerful podcast episode, Simma Lieberman interviews three faith leaders from the Faith Trio - Pastor Ben Daniel, Ali Sheikhaslani, and Rabbi David Cooper. Each of these leaders brings a unique perspective and experience to the conversation, making it even more impactful. The Faith Trio is a group that aims to foster understanding and empathy among different faith communities. They recognize the increase in Islamophobia and antisemitism in today's world and believe that now, more than ever, it is crucial to come together and combat these prejudices. Throughout the episode, the...
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Unmasking the Toxicity of Racism: A Raw Conversation with The Contraband Wagon
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this episode of "Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People," Simma Lieberman welcomes her guest Will Upland (also known as Contraband). He is the creator of the show on Twitch, The Contraband Wagon. Listen to this enlightening, personal and often humorous discussion of race, racism and disruptive conversations. Will (aka Contraband) recounts times in his young life when he encountered people who tried to discourage his success, and were angry that he, the only young Black man in his class stood above everyone else for his talents and brilliance. After feeling frustrated with the...
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Confronting the Lack of Diversity in Nonprofit Leadership
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this conversation on race, Simma The Inclusionist talks with Kristen Sharpe, CEO of Non-profit Makeover, and Deedee De La Cruz, Director of Demand Generation for GiveSmart. Why is there a lack of diversity in leadership roles within nonprofit organizations? Our two guests shed light on the reason that less than 20% of executive positions are held by people of color nonprofits. Kristen Sharpe and Deedee De La Cruz, acknowledge the historical overrepresentation of white individuals in nonprofit leadership positions. There is an urgent need for greater diversity in these roles,...
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"From Apartheid to Forgiveness" a Conversation on Race
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
If you were a Black man imprisoned and tortured for fighting against the brutality of apartheid in South Africa, could you forgive your oppressors? Siya Twani did just that. This is a don’t miss episode. We all need to hear his story. It is especially relevant today with the slaughter of over 1,000 Israelis and the continued bombing and killing of over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza. In this episode, Simma, the Inclusionist, welcomes guest Siya Twani, who grew up under South African apartheid and became a freedom fighter with Nelson Mandela. Siya shares his experiences of...
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Race, Sentencing, and the Criminal Justice System: A Shocking Inside Perspective A Conversation on Race with Sean Wilson, Organizing Director of Dream.Org
Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People
In this episode, Simma The Inclusionist, is joined by Sean Wilson, the organizing director of Dream.org's Justice Team. With 17 years of lived experience and direct involvement with the criminal legal system, Sean brings insight into a system that he believes is broken and in need of reform. They discuss the importance of talking about race, especially in a society where some are trying to criminalize almost everything. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the role of race in America's history. Time Stamps [00:02:13] Sweeping race conversations under the rug [00:06:03] Internal...
info_outlineDamona Hoffman is a dating coach & media personality who starred in two A+E Networks' TV series: #BlackLove and A Question of Love. She’s a contributor for The Washington Post, CNN Headline News (HLN), Match.com, BET.com, and more. Previously, Damona held creative executive & diversity positions at CBS, Paramount, and NBC Universal. Now, she hosts and produces two podcasts, I Make a Living (by FreshBooks) and Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman.
Damona talks with me about what it was like growing up Black and Jewish with an African-American mother and white Jewish father.
Her first awareness and experience with direct racism and hate. was when she was 16 years old. “My friend took me to a party where I was the only Black person. A white guy holding a hockey stick kept pointing at people and asking them their name. When he pointed the stick at me she said, “N……, Bitch that what we call all of you.”
She felt threatened- scared, and shocked. When she jumped up and told her friend they had to go, the friend said she was over reacting.
For Damona Hoffman, this was the moment for her that every person of experiences when they know that things will never be the same. And this is another reason why conversations on race are so crucial because too often, people who are not Black or not people of color do not understand how serious racism is.
Key learning
Those of us who are white need to understand that racism doesn’t go away on its own. If you’re in a situation where you hear a racist statement, see a racist action or witness a person of color being targeted, we have to speak up. We have to intervene. If we claim to be against racism or anti-racist we need to back up our words with action. If we don’t we are colluding, and if we say nothing, we are colluding. Silence equals consent. Do not leave it up to the person of color to have to be a lone voice. In those cases you are either part of the solution you are the problem.
It might be dangerous for a person of color to say something. Damona was lucky she got out but she wanted the friend to speak out and instead her friend made her feel more unsafe.
Being Black, Jewish, and bi-racial helps her connect with people on many levels. There are also times when she gets excluded.
Listen to the rest of the podcast to hear
- When Damona feels included and when she thinks people look at her like she’s an enemy
- Issues of colorism in the Black community and how she worked through it
- Thoughts on internalized racism and oppression
- How she launched talent diversity programs at NBC and CBS
- Experience and speaking out against microaggressions in Hollywood
- Starring role In “Black Love” on A&E