Beyond Xenophobia: Building the Intercultural Team | Orson Horchler | TEDxThorntonAcademy

Summary

The speaker shares experiences of working with immigrants in a construction crew, highlighting the challenges and joys of overcoming language barriers and cultural differences. Through stories of learning to communicate and collaborate despite limited common language, the talk emphasizes the importance of creating intercultural spaces where diverse backgrounds can exchange and learn from each other. It addresses the misconceptions and fears associated with cultural encounters and calls for a shared responsibility to support and understand immigrants, acknowledging the bravery and risks they take to be part of a new community.

Takeaways

• 😀 Communication can be simple even without a common language, relying on gestures and body language.
• 👷 Hiring and working with someone from a different cultural background can be challenging but rewarding.
• 🌐 The importance of learning and adapting to new cultural norms and behaviors in a multicultural work environment.
• 📚 The speaker's experience with an Albanian worker who learned one English word per weekend, illustrating gradual progress in communication.
• 🎶 Collaboration in a band and art projects despite language barriers, showcasing the power of shared experiences and creativity.
• 🌍 The diversity of the team members, hailing from various countries, and the value of their unique perspectives and ideas.
• 🤝 The strong bond formed among team members who become a 'family' in the absence of a support network in a new country.
• 🏗️ The acknowledgment that cultural behaviors are often misunderstood, leading to workplace challenges when not properly addressed.
• 🧐 The distinction between xenophobia as fear of the foreign and the discomfort that arises from cultural encounters.
• 🏢 The need for leaders and companies to understand and embrace cultural differences to create a supportive work environment.
• 🌈 The concept of an 'intercultural space' where all cultures can exchange and learn from one another, fostering understanding and growth.

Q & A

What was the initial communication challenge between the speaker and the 66-year-old Albanian worker?

The initial communication challenge was the language barrier, as the worker knew only four words of English. The speaker had to use Google Translate or made-up sign language to assign tasks.

How did the speaker's perception of the Albanian worker change over time?

The speaker's perception changed when the worker learned to say 'yes' in English and they started working together effectively, even forming a band and working on street art projects.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Orson yes Orson' in the script?

The phrase signifies the Albanian worker's first learned word of English, which was 'yes', and it also highlights the cultural difference in understanding affirmative responses between English and Albanian.

How does the speaker describe the experience of working with a multicultural crew?

The speaker describes it as a strong bond that allows the crew to support each other in times of need and perform better than any crew they've ever been a part of.

What advice does the speaker give to companies having issues with immigrant workers?

The speaker advises companies to understand that much of their behavior is cultural and to be open to learning about and adapting to the cultural differences of their immigrant workers.

Why did the speaker initially consider firing the Albanian worker?

The speaker considered firing the Albanian worker due to the communication difficulties and the stress it caused, feeling that they could not work together effectively.

What is the speaker's view on the term 'xenophobia' in the current political climate?

The speaker views 'xenophobia' as a term that is often used for character assassination and to tarnish someone's reputation, rather than a genuine fear of the foreign.

How does the speaker define an 'intercultural space'?

An intercultural space, according to the speaker, is a place where all cultures can exchange and learn from one another, confronting and discussing cultural differences openly.

What is the importance of the leader in an intercultural crew according to the speaker?

The leader of an intercultural crew is crucial in taking on the role of an older brother, educating about the host culture, and fostering an environment where cultural exchange can occur.

What challenges does the speaker face in creating a safe space for migrants?

The challenges include dealing with cultural misunderstandings, confronting personal biases, and managing the discomfort that comes with cultural exchange and learning.

How does the speaker address the issue of cultural shock and discomfort in the workplace?

The speaker addresses it by creating an intercultural space where discomfort is shared, cultural differences are discussed, and mutual understanding and respect are fostered.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Overcoming Communication Barriers in the Workplace

The speaker recounts the experience of hiring a 66-year-old Albanian worker with limited English skills. Initially, communication was a challenge, relying on Google Translate and improvised sign language. The worker's gradual learning of English and the employer's understanding of his culture led to a successful working relationship. The narrative extends to the speaker's diverse team, emphasizing the importance of embracing cultural differences to foster a strong bond and improve performance. The speaker also addresses the common issues companies face when working with immigrants, such as cultural misunderstandings, and the need to recognize the impact of cultural behaviors in the workplace.

05:00

🌐 Cultural Encounters and the Fear of the 'Other'

This paragraph delves into the concept of xenophobia, which is often hastily labeled to criticize those who fear or reject immigrants. The speaker discusses personal experiences and observations about cultural encounters, highlighting the discomfort and fear that can arise from interacting with people from different cultures. The narrative touches on the superficiality of welcoming attitudes that may mask deeper issues of cultural misunderstanding. The speaker also reflects on the challenges of assimilation and the necessity for immigrants to adapt to the dominant culture to avoid causing discomfort or fear.

10:02

🏗️ Creating an Intercultural Space for Dialogue and Growth

The speaker describes the creation of an intercultural space as a response to the challenges faced by immigrants in the American workplace. This space serves as a 'safe' area where migrants can discuss cultural issues, confront each other about their practices, and learn from one another. The speaker emphasizes the importance of this space in facilitating cultural exchange and mutual understanding. The narrative includes personal anecdotes that illustrate the transformative power of such an environment, where misconceptions are addressed, and cultural appreciation is fostered.

15:03

🌍 Embracing Privilege and Sharing Risks with Immigrants

In the final paragraph, the speaker reflects on the privileges of first-world citizenship and the responsibility that comes with it. The narrative highlights the risks and discomforts immigrants face in their journey to a new country, urging the audience to match this level of risk and discomfort to overcome fears and support immigrants. The speaker calls for action, encouraging individuals to be there for immigrants, to educate themselves about different cultures, and to engage in uncomfortable but necessary conversations that can lead to personal and societal growth.

Keywords

💡Communication

Communication refers to the process of sharing information or ideas through various methods. In the video, the speaker initially struggles with a language barrier when working with an Albanian worker who knows only four words of English. The concept of non-verbal communication, such as nodding for 'yes' and using sign language, is highlighted as a way to bridge the gap when verbal communication is limited.

💡Cultural Barriers

Cultural barriers are the differences in customs, beliefs, and practices that can impede understanding or cooperation between people from different cultures. The speaker discusses the challenges of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as the Congolese worker who addressed clients as 'mom' or 'dad', reflecting a cultural norm of respect and familial closeness that was misunderstood in the American context.

💡Immigrant

An immigrant is a person who moves to a country other than their own to live and work. The video script frequently mentions the experiences of immigrants, including the speaker's own, and the various cultural and social challenges they face in adapting to a new environment. The speaker's band, for instance, is composed of immigrants from different countries, each bringing unique cultural perspectives.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange is the process of sharing and learning about different cultures. The speaker advocates for an 'intercultural space' where people from different cultures can openly discuss and learn from each other's customs and practices. This is exemplified by the speaker's own experiences in a band and company with diverse cultural members.

💡Xenophobia

Xenophobia is the fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. The video addresses the concept of xenophobia, suggesting that it can manifest not only in overtly negative attitudes but also in subtle ways, such as the reluctance to engage with cultural differences. The speaker challenges the audience to confront their own potential xenophobia and to embrace cultural diversity.

💡Personal Space

Personal space is the physical and psychological distance individuals prefer to maintain between themselves and others. The script discusses cultural differences in personal space, as illustrated by an incident where an American woman felt uncomfortable with a Congolese man's approach in a bar, reflecting different cultural norms regarding closeness and interaction.

💡Cultural Assimilation

Cultural assimilation is the process by which an individual or group adopts the cultural traits of another group. The speaker talks about the pressure to assimilate into American culture to avoid discomfort and the potential loss of one's own cultural identity in the process. The concept is also discussed in the context of older immigrants having to start from scratch in a new culture.

💡Intercultural Space

An intercultural space is an environment where people from different cultures can interact and learn from one another. The speaker describes creating such a space for migrants to discuss cultural issues, confront stereotypes, and educate each other about their respective cultures, fostering understanding and respect.

💡Cultural Misunderstandings

Cultural misunderstandings occur when the actions or intentions of individuals from one culture are incorrectly interpreted by those from another due to differences in norms or expectations. The video script provides examples of such misunderstandings, such as the Angolan worker's misconceptions about dating white women, which stem from stereotypes and lack of exposure to different cultural practices.

💡Risk and Discomfort

Risk and discomfort are central themes in the video, referring to the challenges and uncertainties faced by both immigrants and those interacting with them. The speaker emphasizes the need to share in the risks and discomforts that immigrants experience, such as cultural missteps or the physical dangers of migration, in order to foster empathy and understanding.

💡First World Citizenship

First world citizenship implies the privileges and benefits associated with being a citizen of a developed or industrialized country. The speaker reflects on the privileges they have as a citizen of two first-world countries, which afford them opportunities and freedoms that are not available to many immigrants, and the responsibility that comes with these privileges to support and understand the immigrant experience.

Highlights

Communicating without a common language can lead to simple gestures like nodding for 'yes' and shaking for 'no'.

Hiring a 66-year-old Albanian worker with limited English led to creative communication methods like Google Translate and sign language.

The worker gradually learned English words, starting with 'yes', showcasing incremental language acquisition.

Cultural differences in communication, such as Albanian affirmations and negations, can lead to misunderstandings.

Despite language barriers, the speaker and the worker successfully collaborated in music and art, indicating the power of non-verbal connection.

Diversity in the workplace from various countries like Burundi, st. Vincent, and the Grenadines, and France enriches team dynamics.

Cultural clashes can lead to drama and strong bonds, as work relationships can become akin to family.

The importance of understanding cultural behaviors in the workplace to prevent miscommunication and improve team performance.

An example of a Congolese worker addressing clients as 'mom' or 'dad' reflects a deep cultural respect for elders.

The challenge of cultural adaptation for immigrants in a new country and the need for support networks.

The concept of 'xenophobia' is discussed, questioning its use and understanding in the current political climate.

The speaker's experience of being an immigrant in Portland, Maine, and the community of immigrants he found there.

The struggle of integrating immigrants into American workplace culture and the resistance to cultural exchange.

The idea of creating a 'safe space' for migrants to discuss and learn about each other's cultures.

The importance of intercultural spaces where all cultures can exchange and learn from one another.

The story of an Angolan worker's misconceptions about dating white women, highlighting cultural misunderstandings.

The risks and responsibilities involved in operating in a different culture, both for the immigrant and the employer.

The privilege of having first-world citizenships and the duty to support and understand immigrants' experiences.

A call to action for individuals to be there for immigrants, to share discomfort, and to educate oneself about other cultures.

Transcripts

[Music]

say you and I had no language in common

and we only had our bodies to

communicate some things would be pretty

simple right

like communicating yes just nod

No two years ago I hired a new worker in

my construction crew and I didn't know

much about him besides he was 66 years

old he was Albanian I need you about

four words of English I would assign

tasks to him using Google Translate or

made-up sign language and he would just

look at me and go so I would try to find

something else so I would insist and

again he would say he would go like this

and then after a while I just started to

stress me out I felt like I cannot work

with with this guy when we can I made up

my mind that I was gonna talk to him on

Monday and tell him I had to fire him

when we got to work on Monday all my

crew got there at the same time we just

had to start working we didn't have time

to talk I had to get him busy I told him

what I wanted him to do and he looks at

me and he goes yes Orson yes Orson see

my worker would learn one word of

English every weekend I guess that

weekend he learned the word yes and also

I didn't know that in Albania this is

yes and this is no

now we've been working together for two

years we were also in a band together

we still don't barely know any words of

common language but we managed to play

some complex world fusion music he's

also helped me with my street art

projects and in my band and my my

collaborations in my company we're all

from different countries

Rhonda Burundi st. Vincent and the

Grenadines I'm from France nobody's

perfect

and and so we spent our days laughing at

each other's speech patterns sometimes

when one of us voices out an idea and

the others think this is something I

could only come out of the mind of a

Vincentian or Congolese or or Frenchmen

and there's also plenty of drama you see

when you come to a new country and

you're without family or support network

often the people you work with become

your family it is say that it is best to

keep your personal problems at home but

those lines get blurred it makes for a

strong bond that allows us to be there

for each other in times of need

and it also I also know that on the

stage or at the job site we perform

better than any crew I've ever been a

part of now you may want to hire

immigrants or collaborate with

immigrants if so then congratulations

now let's get to work typically when

companies contact me to ask for advice

on working with immigrants it's because

they already hired somebody and they're

having some issues and usually the

issues can be broken down to the fact

that the company or the managers did not

realize how much of our behavior is

cultural so for instance I worked I had

a friend of mine who I hired used from

Congo and when we'd work at somebody's

house where he would talk to the client

and he would say excuse me mom

or excuse me dad and so it made just for

a cringe-worthy moment nothing too bad

but it took me about two years of a lot

of exposure and two Congolese culture to

realize what he had done first of all he

was by saying mom were saying that he

was say telling the person that he was

that person was good enough to be of his

own blood it could be his family he

would respect her or him as he would his

parents and also he was stressing out

the fact they were older now who the

hell stresses out the age of an older

woman well somebody from a culture where

age and experience is extremely

respected when you work with somebody

from other cultures it can threaten your

every assumption migrants are used to it

the discomfort is something that we

experience every day but for and it's

it's a lot of work it's exhausting it's

also exhilarating but for the person who

is used to functioning in their own

culture and their culture is the

dominant culture the encountering of the

cultural other can also lead to a lot of

fear that fear is something we were

quick to call xenophobia in Greek fear

of the foreign but what is xenophobia

what does it mean for us in the present

political climate xenophobe is a word

like sexist like racists like biggest

that we use to label somebody for

character assassination to tarnish their

records in opposition to that some

well-meaning people may have welcomed

immigrants proper stickers on their cars

or right well-thought-out Facebook posts

about their outrage at anti-immigration

policy even more than that some people

might willingly join a multicultural

space

when I first arrived in Portland there

were so many immigrants and is also I

encountered a lot of Americans who

wanted to get to know their immigrant

neighbors they were say why aren't the

immigrants out in the bars we never meet

them well I'll tell you what happened

the first time that I saw a Congolese in

the bar I was there with a female

American female friend of mine I thought

everything was going great and within a

few minutes she comes to me and says

help me Orson this guy's just keeps him

very in my personal space

so I wanted to tell her that probably if

she also had grown up in a one-bedroom

with seven siblings she probably

wouldn't have much personal space but

the gist of it is just that personal

space like every every other behavior is

entirely Co so there are many ways of

refusing to encounter the the cultural

other that are hidden in welcoming

attitudes you may be comfortable with me

coming into your home or living next

door or even flirting with you but only

because I'm doing all the work or

speaking your culture the minute that I

talk about race sex religion the way we

perceive them in my culture the minute

that I show my romantic interest in you

the way we do the mating dance in my

culture the minute I forget about your

conscious personal space we have a big

problem the u.s. is for multicultural

space Queens New York the most

ethnically diverse place on earth in the

widest state in the country in Maine

Portland Maine public school kids 33% of

them speak another language besides

English at home technically speaking

since I only meet people from my culture

once every five or six years every

culture every space the answer because

multicultural but I know better than to

assume it means that I can just express

my culture freely my social survival

depends on my assimilation

the better I assimilate the less

discomfort I caused the less potential

for fear so really not being afraid may

technically be the opposite of

xenophobia but it also may mean that in

the first place one is not even ready to

receive cultural other when I arrived in

Portland Maine for the first time in

over a decade I had an incredible

community there were so many immigrants

so many people with whom I share the

experience of migration and I spare the

francophones

off to a comic-con which is big like

older brother with that filial name came

also a lot of responsibilities so when

my businesses and my my artwork and my

music started picking up I decided to

bring some of these immigrants in my in

my work and I was hitting one big hurdle

which is that in the American workplace

in American culture the workplace is

somewhere where you're not supposed to

be made to feel uncomfortable yet for

people who are from other cultures when

you're living in the u.s. you're always

uncomfortable I would see a time and

time again if I had all a crew of

entirely immigrants and one single

American worker that would dictate the

company culture shut down dissident

voices and refuse to dialogue I was told

for instance by Americans who identified

as underprivileged in one way or another

that it was not their job to educate

their co-workers who could barely speak

English how to speak to them in a

politically correct manner one even told

me if they want to learn they just have

to go on Google and that's when it kind

of dawned on me that's it you can add

Google but a 67 year old Albanian needs

you cannot go on google and find out

what a 22 year old less

from burkina faso staying at the

homeless shelter in portland needs to

feel respected so the disadvantage of

not speaking the cultural language of

the u.s. of the internet proceeded all

so i felt the need to create an

exclusive space a place just for

migrants and i guess what Americans call

a safe space but what is a safe space

for migrants what is the safe space for

people who share only one thing in

common and that is being culture shock I

guess it would be a safe space that's

not comfortable in that safe space we

discuss issues we confront each other

about each other's cultures we ask

pointed questions about Muslim prayer

homosexual practices we talk about them

we probe and then they end the out we

get over it and we change my perception

of aging for example has totally changed

in contact with the Congolese and their

respect for experience so we became an

intercultural space an intercultural

space is not just multicultural but it

is a space where all cultures get to

exchange and learn from one another I

had a female employee from from Uganda

and she I was turning her in carpentry

and she said ëno Orson I'm a I'm a baby

American I said don't say that because I

don't like the way that we infantilized

immigrant he said no really and some day

you come to Uganda with me and you'll be

a baby Ugandan she had a point when you

go to another culture decades of

experience can come up to Leith and you

have to start from scratch it is very

important to know that when you

especially when you're working with

older workers for us with my opinion

worker for instance he has to follow my

directives all day I'm 30 years younger

than him I have less experience in

carpentry when he gets one we played

together in the band he gets on stage it

doesn't matter you know

standing Albanian you know his boss you

can tell his years of experience these

moments are incredibly important to

create but also because someone has to

start from scratch

the leader of the intercultural crew has

to really take on that role of older

brother and and use the freedom of

speech of the intercultural space to

educate about the host culture

I had a worker from Angola and he had

been in the country for three years we

drive down to Kennebunk to a job and

we'd be in the car in one time he tells

me you know sanneh I'd really like to

have a white girlfriend I said well I'm

sure you could and he says yeah but

they're so expensive so I said what are

you talking about

I mean I've started relationships with

Central African women and it's not just

you pay for dinners how much do you

leave after for her to buy shoes the

next day and the second time you get

together we talk about how much money

I'm going to send to our family so I'm

like why do you think that and he says

well my friends who are dating white

women the women move in right away and

they have to buy them a car they're

always going shopping and you know how

white women love heroin and as the way

to me aware of it where did your friends

find these women and he looked at me

like I was stupid he says well on and he

names a street corner in Portland where

the prostitutes hang out

operating in a different culture is

risky it can get you arrested or it

could get you punched in the face like I

was shortly after 9/11 by a co-worker

who was convinced I was a member of

al-qaeda but and it's also there's risk

involved also for the person hiring or

the leader of the crew often I get

contractors who tell me you know worsen

I love what you're doing I'd like hire

immigrants too I say yeah great I got

this brother from Uruguay he just got

his work permit they said well how's

this English not great he's been here

for a year and they said well I don't

think that's gonna work out so in this

host culture there was a lot of

insistence on words were so proud to

call themselves perhaps Republican or so

upset to be called racist but there's

sometimes a lack of action therefore for

me there is a responsibility to share

discomfort and to share risk if you wish

to support your immigrant neighbor for

many people who are here many migrants

simply embarking on the journey to make

it here it's incredibly risky and

dangerous as we speak you know coming to

this multicultural space people are

dying to share with us it's not a

metaphor as we speak perhaps in the

deserts of Mexico running out of water

and on a raft in the material or in the

overheated engine room of a cargo ship

headed to Brazil people may be losing

their lives to share this space with us

we may meet here on safe soil and they

may respectfully call me older brother

or papa

but it is done that I admire and they

are my masters

of bravery me you see I have not just

one but two of what I think of as the

greatest privilege in this 21st century

I have to first world citizenships

because of that I'm here today able to

talk to you I hope that everything I've

said today honors those who cannot speak

I believe we have a duty to match the

level of discomfort and risk to get over

our fears you may think there's nothing

you can do but don't be discouraged you

can be there you can be that person for

an immigrant that person you can go to

with any question about this culture and

with when talking together things start

getting a little uncomfortable that's

great you have just entered that space

beyond xenophobia thank you

[Applause]

[Music]