A CONVERSATION TO HELP US DIG PAST OUR TRIBALISM TENDENCY WITH DR. JIM SMAY
You’re more than likely guilty of concluding something about someone or something based on what you immediately see.
At some point, most are guilty of judging a book by its cover instead of digging in further. For example, if you were to see my friend and colleague, Dr. Jim Smay, you’d immediately think, “middle-aged White man.” And while he is a native Oklahoman with a Ph.D. in engineering, an educator, and an entrepreneur with clients worldwide, he’s also Native American.
In this episode of the Words of Love podcast, you’ll hear about his journey of identifying as part of the Cherokee Nation with his White appearance and lineage. You’ll also learn how our tendency towards tribalism as a species, which initially was necessary for survival, is still hardwired into us and affects how we regard each other.
8:50 - A bit about Dr. Jim Smay and prejudice as a global issue
15:04 - Our inclination to tribalism and the importance of balancing retrospection with evaluating the present
25:29 - Dr. Smay’s emotional and intellectual journey of embracing his Cherokee identity
33:52 - What it was like for Dr. Smay to campaign for tribal council as a White-presenting Cherokee with his mixed-race family
39:29 - Forming connections through conversations that take us beyond tribalism
54:18 - The gift of Tulsa that opened my eyes and motivated me to start these intersectionality conversations
1:00:21 - Why Dr. Smay had to indict himself about bigotry
1:05:33 - The problematization of White people
About Dr. Jim Smay
Dr. Jim Smay is the Colcord Endowed Professor and Head of Materials Science and Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He is a lifelong Oklahoman having been born in Tulsa, raised in Stilwell, and returned from his education to teach at OSU. Jim teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in engineering as well as guiding a research program in materials science. Most recently, Jim ran for a tribal council position in the Cherokee Nation. Jim is married to Anesthesiologist Dr. Jewel Smay and father to Hannah and Joshua Smay as well as two adopted daughters, Tori and Monti.