Racism from the Inside Out: Toward Reconciliation and Cure

Invited to offer my commentary on racism, I do so from the view of an interracial counselor/trainer with much experience in the U.S. and elsewhere. Global listener herein refers to those ascribing to the ideals and definition of listening set forth by the Global Listening Centre. Why would racism be of import to the global listener? Beside moral and humanitarian reasons, effective listening as a constructive process (Burleson 2011) is predicated on having clear perception through which meaning unfolds. The classic adage pertains: garbage in—garbage out. The more racialized our perception, the less effective listening becomes. The very fact that we are human means imperfection—our minds however sharp can never be pure. That is inescapable whatever stripe of color you might be. My hope is that in a small way, what I set forth might aid us become better global listeners. Herein my purpose will be to chart out the who, what, and where about racism and how we might overcome this bane that afflicts humanity, while sharing actual interracial experiences and the role of listening for a successful outcome.