How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond

If we want a more equitable workplace—and a more equitable world—we have to talk to each other about race.

But, for so many of us, that’s easier said than done.

When we avoid conversations about race, it’s often because of fear: fear of discomfort, or of damaging important relationships; fear of being misunderstood, “canceled,” ostracized.

Negotiation expert Kwame Christian’s motto is: "The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations." How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race equips you with the skills you need to make these crucial conversations both easier and more productive. You’ll not only gain the confidence to talk about race, but also learn how to actually make a difference when you do.

Whether you’re looking to create change for yourself and other BIPOC, or are a white ally seeking to support your coworkers or clients, you’ll learn how to:

Overcome your internal barriers to talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Work around others’ barriers to productive discussion.

Be strategic about the outcome you want and guide the conversation accordingly.

Use “Compassionate Curiosity” to connect and persuade.

Avoid common mistakes.

Tackle some of the most common race-related conversations that come up in the workplace.

If you’ve ever struggled to turn your passion for change into persuasion or been too afraid to speak up at work (or outside of it), this book is for you. The first step toward lasting social change is productive discussion. With How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race, you’ll never shy away from those crucial conversations again.

Kwame Christian is the founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, where he conducts training that helps make difficult conversations easier. He’s the host of the world’s most popular negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything, and his book, Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life, has helped countless individuals navigate difficult conversations. The book was inspired by Kwame’s TED Talk with the same name that has over 250,000 views.

Kwame was the recipient of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2020 and the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 2021. He is the only person in the history of Ohio State University to win alumni awards in consecutive years from the law school and the masters of public affairs program. In addition to his work at the American Negotiation Institute, he also serves as a business lawyer at the firm of Carlile Patchen and Murphy LLP; contributor at Forbes; professor of negotiation for Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, the top-ranked dispute resolution program in the country; and professor of communication and negotiation at the MBA program at Otterbein University. Kwame’s proudest achievement is his family. He’s married to Dr. Whitney Christian, and they have two lovely sons, Kai and Dominic.