Today’s guest has spent more than five decades holding a mirror to the world.
Jane “One Race” Elliott, teacher, diversity educator, and truth-teller, first ran her Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, revealing how racism is learned, not born.
Controversial, courageous, and uncompromising, Jane has challenged classrooms, corporations, and governments to face the hard truths about privilege, prejudice, and power.
In this lively conversation, Jane takes us from the roots of racism to the words that keep it alive, and shows why women have a vital role in leading humanity back to truth.
She’s fierce. She’s fearless. And I knew she’d bust my butt, for the growth, the truth, and the change.
Links & References:
Connect With Jane Elliot
Website: https://janeelliott.com
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Show Note:
Introducing Jane Elliott @ 0:02
Jennifer introduces Jane Elliott, a renowned diversity educator who has spent over 50 years challenging racism and prejudice through her famous “Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes” exercise. Jane is known for her controversial, courageous, and uncompromising approach to confronting uncomfortable truths about privilege, power, and the learned nature of racism.
The Origins of Racism @ 1:28
Jane explains how the concept of race was first invented by the Catholic friar Torquemada in 15th-16th century Spain, who divided people into “white” and “black” categories based on skin color in order to determine who deserved to live or die. She traces how this false racial categorization system has persisted and been perpetuated, despite the fact that all humans belong to a single race – the human race.
Challenging Racist Language and Mindsets @ 6:39
Jane emphasizes the power of language and how we must be more careful and intentional with the words we use. She argues that there are no “black” or “white” people, only various shades of brown, and that we need to recondition ourselves to see and refer to people in more accurate, inclusive ways. Jane shares creative ideas like wearing “SOB” (Shades of Brown) apparel to shift mindsets.
The Importance of Women’s Roles @ 19:14
Jane discusses the unique and vital role of women in dismantling racism, noting that without women, there would be no men, and that women have the power to lead the way in changing how we think about race, gender, and human equality. She encourages women to use their voices and influence to drive this critical societal shift.
Embracing the Unseen Spiritual Realm @ 54:26
Jane shares personal anecdotes about the spiritual presences she has encountered, including in the old church next to her home. She emphasizes that death is not the end, and that we have much to learn from the energy and wisdom of those who have passed on, if we are open to perceiving and engaging with the unseen world.
A Call to Action @ 1:01:53
Jane passionately urges Jennifer and her audience to spread the “SOB” (Shades of Brown) message as widely as possible, using creative methods like apparel and everyday language to shift mindsets and work towards a more just, equitable, and unified society. She believes this is an idea whose time has come, and that with persistence, it can transform the next generation.