UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONs: EMMANUEL ACHO AND NOA TISHBY AT BARRY UNIVERSITY

By Litzy Grijalba

In an era where difficult conversations are needed more than ever, Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby are taking the conversation about identity, stereotypes and division to a new level. On Feb. 27, 2025, this powerful event was held in the Broad auditorium, bringing together Emmanuel Acho– former NFL player, New York Times bestselling author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man– and host of the popular video series of the same name, alongside Noa Tishby– an Israeli actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of "Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth."

Photo Credit to Maison Bracey "Emmanuel Acho (left) and Noa Tishby (right)"

Acho, known for his candid discussions around racism and identity, and Tishby, a passionate advocate for Israel, tackled one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to foster understanding and challenge the stereotypes that continue to divide us. Through their shared commitment to truth and empathy, the event Uncomfortable Conversations offered a rare opportunity to engage in a conversation about Jewish identity, antisemitism, and the power of open dialogue.

Together, they carried out a meaningful dialogue that not only confronts uncomfortable truths but promotes courage in the face of prejudice and misunderstanding.

More than ever, people need to confront these difficult subjects to challenge their own biases. In a world increasingly divided by polarizing discourse, these dialogues offer an opportunity for people to listen to diverse perspectives and help bridge gaps in understanding.

 Acho emphasized the importance of building relationships based on mutual respect, stating, "Noa and I formulated friendship. Why is this important for those in the audience? Because the foundation of our friendship was able to keep us together in the midst of any tension or turmoil. You're allowed to disagree so long as you know of the foundation of friendship within disagreeing, I believe nobody cares what you know until they know that you care."

Photo Credit to Pexels

Tishby also shared a core principle in navigating tough conversations, stating, "We want the world to know, you can disagree and you can move forward for the greater good of society so long as you come back, talk about it in the end."

She further emphasized the strength of solidarity between marginalized communities.

"There’s the Jewish-Black alliance. We’ve stood together for generations, facing the challenges and obstacles that have been placed in our way. Emmanuel is here to say 'No' to those forces that seek to divide us," she said.

At the event, Acho and Tishby addressed several key themes that focused on encouraging understanding and confronting misconceptions. Acho, drawing from his experiences as a Black man in America, used his platform to promote racial understanding.

"In 2022, after writing "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man" after the murder of George Floyd, I was like, well, I want to lead my voice on my platform to another marginalized community. And so I was like, there's a lot of tension publicly between the Black community and Jewish community, particularly in the faces of different Black men," said Acho.

Through his video series and book, "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," Acho aims to educate the public on racial issues, offering insights that promote honest, open dialogue. Tishby, on the other hand, focused on challenging stereotypes, particularly those about Israel, aiming to dispel myths and misconceptions.

Photo Credit to Pexels

With its diverse student body, Barry University encourages dialogue around critical issues such as race, culture and identity, aligning with one of its core values of inclusiveness and community. The insights shared during these discussions can greatly benefit the university community, offering students valuable tools for understanding complex social issues and developing empathy.

“We live in a world right now in which people are so sensitive, trigger words and safe spaces. I do not believe in safe spaces, I believe in real spaces,” said Tishby.