A PATH TO CONNECTION: SEEING OPPORTUNITY, NOT INSULT [TedX Talk]

I recently came across a short video clip of an interview with writer James Baldwin. In it, a white British television host turns to the acclaimed novelist and playwright and asks the following question:

“When you were starting out as a writer you were a black, impoverished, homosexual. You must have said to yourself, ‘Gee, how disadvantaged can I get?’”

Baldwin, smiling throughout the question, immediately responded, “No. I’d thought I’d hit the jackpot.”

The crowd burst into laughter. The interviewer laughed. Even Baldwin laughed.

Then Baldwin continued, “It was so outrageous it could not go any further. So you had to find a way to use it.”

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I’m here today to talk about that question being asked and that question being answered. I’m here to talk about expectations and assumptions. About how we see ourselves and others. I’m here to talk about what I’ll later explain is choosing opportunity over insult — a concept that totally changed the way I think about myself. And, I’m here today to talk about connection. About how we can spin and create stories that lead to stronger connections.

I’m a visual storyteller by trade, so I’m going to explain my idea through my life and my work, but I believe this across the board — across industry and individual — when we chose opportunity over insult, we are better equipped to connect and to thrive.