The Cost of Code Switching | Chandra Arthur | TEDxOrlando

Summary

The speaker shares a personal story about how code-switching—changing behavior or speech to adapt to different cultural norms—played a critical role in navigating a potentially life-threatening encounter with police. They reflect on growing up learning to fit into different environments, the pressures of existing in multiple worlds, and the societal cost of this adaptation. The talk highlights the importance of embracing true diversity, where individuals can authentically express their cultural identities without facing penalties, and challenges us to foster spaces that celebrate uniqueness rather than conformity.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker recounts an incident where she was mistakenly thought to be burglarizing her own home, highlighting the potential dangers faced by people of color during police encounters.
• 🔍 The concept of code-switching is introduced as the act of alternating between two or more languages or ways of expressing oneself, often influenced by the social context.
• 👧 The speaker shares her childhood experience of learning to code-switch to fit into a new school environment, emphasizing its impact on her identity.
• 👗 Code-switching is shown to be a survival mechanism, where the speaker had to change her appearance and behavior to be seen as non-threatening in predominantly white spaces.
• 👮‍♀️ The speaker raises the question of how her experience might have differed if she were a black man, pointing to the gendered aspects of racial profiling.
• 🌐 Code-switching is discussed in the context of a globally connected world, where people from diverse backgrounds interact more frequently.
• 🚫 The expectation to code-switch is critiqued as a threat to true diversity, as it pressures individuals to conform to certain behaviors to be accepted.
• 🎓 The speaker's professional life as a tech founder is contrasted with the underrepresentation of black women in tech and venture capital, illustrating the broader implications of code-switching on career opportunities.
• 💼 The cost of code-switching to society is highlighted, as it diverts time and energy away from pursuing personal and professional goals.
• 🌈 The speaker calls for a truer sense of diversity that values and celebrates individual uniqueness and cultural contributions, rather than penalizing them.

Q & A

What was the speaker's experience with the police when she was cleaning her house?

The speaker was mistakenly thought to be burglarizing her own home by her neighbor, who then called the police. She encountered four police officers with guns drawn, one pointed at her, surrounding her front porch.

What is the concept of 'code-switching' as described in the script?

Code-switching is the act of alternating between two or more languages or ways of expressing oneself, often within the same phrase or sentence. It can also refer to changing one's behavior or speech to fit into different social contexts.

Why did the speaker have to learn to code-switch as a child?

The speaker had to learn to code-switch to fit in with her new classmates after being accepted into a gifted program at a different school, where she felt the need to change her clothing, music preferences, and behavior to be culturally compatible.

How does the speaker suggest code-switching affects true diversity?

The speaker argues that the expectation of code-switching threatens true diversity because it requires individuals from minority groups to conform to certain behaviors to be accepted, rather than being praised for their uniqueness and cultural contributions.

What was the incident involving Henry Louis Gates Jr. mentioned in the script?

Henry Louis Gates Jr., a Harvard professor, was arrested for breaking and entering into his own home in 2009. The speaker uses this example to highlight how code-switching can affect the outcome of interactions with authorities.

What are some of the consequences the speaker mentions for those who choose not to code-switch?

The consequences for not code-switching can include not getting promotions, being jeered at for cultural expressions, or facing disciplinary actions for natural hair or attire that doesn't conform to certain standards.

What does the term 'Oreos' refer to in the context of the script?

In the script, 'Oreos' is a slang term referring to a person who is black on the outside and white on the inside, implying a person of color who has adopted cultural behaviors or speech patterns typically associated with white people.

Why did the speaker become a tech founder, and what challenges does she face?

The speaker became a tech founder to change the world positively. However, as a black woman in the tech industry, she faces challenges such as a lack of access to venture capital, with black women receiving only 0.2% of it.

What is the speaker's view on the benefits of true diversity?

The speaker believes that true diversity, where individuals are accepted and praised for their uniqueness, leads to a more compassionate, smarter society and allows everyone to gain the benefits of different perspectives and cultural contributions.

What challenge does the speaker issue to the audience regarding code-switching and diversity?

The speaker challenges the audience to give every person the space to be their true selves, regardless of their background, to truly embrace the benefits of diversity and to move beyond the need for code-switching.