Even with the recent backlash against DEI, many people believe they’re taking genuine steps to make themselves and their organisations less racist - but are they? In this thought-provoking talk, Professor Keon West reveals how much we assume and how little we truly know about the impact of our actions.He explores how to distinguish between meaningful change and well-intentioned nonsense, showing us how to tell the difference between speaking truth to power and simply talking about it. Professor Keon West is a prominent social psychologist at formerly at Goldsmiths, University of London, specialising in prejudice, identity, and intergroup relations.His influential research on racism and anti-LGBT discrimination has earned several prestigious honours, including the Michele Alexander Award and the APA’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ethnic Minority Issues. He’s also recognised for his teaching and mentoring excellence.A frequent contributor to Media articles, BBC / BBC Radio and Channel 4, West brings academic insights to mainstream conversations on bias. His 2025 book, The Science of Racism, presents an accessible, evidence-based examination of how racism persists in modern society.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 11:19Opportunity Hides in Plain Sight | Faheem Ahamed | TEDxAlBateenIn this powerful TEDxAlBateen talk, Faheem Ahamed reminds us that opportunity doesn’t always knock — sometimes, it hums. Through deeply personal stories of courage, failure, and purpose, Faheem explores how imagination can become a renewable resource, and how the smallest questions can lead to world-changing impact.From his early days as a teenager learning that you don’t need permission to begin, to his work with global scientists and storytellers on Bee:wild — a groundbreaking initiative using AI to protect pollinators — Faheem reveals how listening closely to the hum of possibility can transform not only individual lives, but entire communities and ecosystems.This talk celebrates the UAE’s enduring spirit of dreamers who do — a land where doubt becomes design, skepticism becomes structure, and optimism becomes infrastructure.Key ideas:- Opportunity hides in everyday challenges - The courage to start before you’re ready - Doing good defines success - How imagination fuels sustainable innovation - Using artificial intelligence for environmental protectionRecorded live at TEDxAlBateen 2025 — a platform dedicated to exploring the theme “Threads of Us”, weaving stories of belonging, purpose, and shared humanity.#FaheemAhamed #TEDxAlBateen #BeeWild #ThreadsOfUs #Sustainability #AI #Innovation #UAE Faheem Ahamed is a transformative leader who leverages technology and strategic communications to drive global impact, bringing over 28 years of expertise in commercial branding, geopolitical advisory, and social innovation.Faheem's career showcases entrepreneurial success, including founding two marketing communications agencies and leading strategic transformations for global brands like Samsung, Cadbury’s, Tourism Malaysia, Sage, BAT, Visa, Dubai Shopping Festival, and Malaysia Airlines. His strategic insight has driven profitability, brand excellence, and quantum growth across diverse industries and regions, including AustralAsia, the Middle East, the US, UK, and Europe.Faheem addressed global challenges such as polio eradication for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and irregular migration through innovative media solutions, notably producing film "Journey." He also played a pivotal role in launching VICE Arabia, driving social impact initiatives in the Middle East. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 14:37Building Systems that Serve Humanity | H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed | TEDxAlBateenIn this powerful and reflective talk, H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed — a visionary leader and Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi — takes us on a journey through five decades of experience, from a small village in Madinat Zayed to leading major national transformations in health, governance, and public service.Through stories of perseverance, innovation, and teamwork, His Excellency shares how community values shaped his leadership and how service to the nation became his lifelong compass. From pioneering the first TAMM service center in Madinat Zayed, to launching Malaffi, the UAE’s first unified health information platform, and steering the country’s COVID-19 response with courage and collaboration — his story is a testament to what can be achieved through unity and purpose.H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed reminds us that true success is not measured by awards or titles, but by what we offer others — by the foundations we build for future generations, and by the values we pass on.Key ideas:- Leadership as a lifelong journey of responsibility and service - The power of community and teamwork in national progress - Lessons from building systems that work for the people, and managing the COVID-19 response - How innovation and compassion can redefine public service - Building a nation by nurturing its next generationRecorded live at TEDxAlBateen 2025 — themed “Threads of Us,” celebrating stories of leadership, resilience, and the values that connect people to purpose.#TEDxAlBateen #SheikhAbdullaAlHamed #ThreadsOfUs #Leadership #UAE #PublicService #Inspiration #Health #Innovation H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed Bin Butti Al Hamed is a distinguished government official with a wealth of experience and notable accomplishments.Recognized for his exceptional contributions, H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed Bin Butti Al Hamed has been honored with multiple awards and certificates of appreciation. Notably, during his tenure as Chairman of the Department of Health, he received 58 awards for his extraordinary efforts in combating the global pandemic, COVID-19. Additionally, he was presented with the prestigious Salerno Medical School Award for notable figures in the healthcare sector in the UAE from the International Award Salernitana Medical School. He was also appointed as a member of the Trustee Board of the Almo Collegio of the Salerno Medical School, where he received an Honorary Degree in Human Sciences and the Cooperation of Peoples This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
