I was  a black girl raised in  the segregated South in the 1960s. It was a confusing period made more perplexing by my parents’ inability or unwillingness to answer my many questions about race. As a young adult, I realized that questioning the racial status quo in Alabama then was a futile endeavor for most older black folks. But our collective racial condition sparked a curiosity within me that led to  a life-long quest to better  understand our country’s history and struggle with racial  issues. I have always been passionate about  equal employment opportunities and mutual respect, and my enthusiasm  evolved into a business interest that  features  diversity and inclusion initiatives and strategies. Bashen Corporation’s mission is to help employers effect meaningful, positive and permanent changes in the workplace.