Cross-cultural communication topic of lecture at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Derald Wing Sue, a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, on Nov. 14 will lead a discussion about cross-cultural communication at Stewart Center's Fowler Hall.

The 3 p.m. talk is titled "A Lesson in Cross-Cultural Communication," and is free and open to the public.

Sue also is an author and lecturer. With more than 150 publications, 17 books and numerous media productions, he is one of the most cited multicultural scholars today.

His most recent book, "Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation," won the 2010 National Diversity and Inclusion Book Prize from UnityFirst.com and Forbes Diversity. He also wrote "Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestations, Dynamics and Impact."

Sue says microaggressions are brief and everyday slights, indignities and denigrating messages sent to diverse community members by well-intentioned majority community members. He says microaggressions usually happen at a subconscious level, are not intended to offend, but they can be very damaging.

Sue's current research involves the relationship of microaggressions and difficult dialogues on race. He is working on a book titled "The Psychology of Racial Dialogues."

The Office of the Provost and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion are sponsoring the talk as part of The Power of the Spoken Word Program, which is designed to show how communication can affect the ability to build a more inclusive campus community. 

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-497-9611, gmcclure@purdue.edu