Positioning Statement:

A powerful guide to understanding and navigating the language that divides us, from an award-winning intercultural communication expert who has spent three decades challenging bias across 30 countries. Dr. Omekongo Dibinga reveals how certain words trigger deep emotional responses, examines their historical roots and contemporary impact, and provides practical tools for fostering more productive conversations across racial, cultural, and political divides—transforming conflict into connection.

Market Opportunity:

DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) training market valued at $9.4 billion and growing despite recent political challenges

Corporate America investing heavily in bias training, inclusive language, and cultural competency

Educational institutions seeking resources for intercultural communication and anti-bias education

Increasing polarization creates urgent demand for bridging divides and facilitating difficult conversations

Social justice movements have elevated awareness of language's power to harm or heal

Growing recognition that "cancel culture" and communication breakdowns harm productivity and relationships

Post-2020 heightened awareness of racial justice issues creates market for actionable, nuanced guidance

Political and generational divides create need for practical communication tools

Author Credentials:

Dr. Omekongo Dibinga is Senior Professorial Lecturer of Intercultural Communication at American University

Strong social media presence

Ph.D. in International Education Policy from University of Maryland, with dissertation focused on post-Civil Rights Era Black youth

Over 30 years as community activist challenging bias and smashing stereotypes

Lived and worked in almost 30 countries, bringing global perspective to American issues

Award-winning poet—understands language's power and nuance at deepest level

World-renowned professional speaker working with corporations and school districts globally on leveraging diversity

Host of The UPstander's Podcast with Dr. Omekongo, selected by FeedSpot as one of Top 35 Social Justice Podcasts

Worked with Southern Poverty Law Center's "Teaching Diverse Students Initiative"

Consultant and motivational speaker for organizations, associations, and institutions worldwide

Combines academic rigor, practical experience, artistic sensitivity, and real-world results

Publicity

Print, Broadcast & Major Media:

Major trade reviewers: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist

National newspapers: New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian

Black media: The Root, Essence, Ebony, The Grio, Black Enterprise, Afro-American Newspaper

General interest: The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek

Education media: Education Week, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, EdSurge

HR/workplace media: Harvard Business Review, HR Magazine, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes, Fortune

Social justice media: Colorlines, YES! Magazine, Sojourners, The Nation, Mother Jones

NPR shows: 1A, Code Switch, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Tell Me More

Broadcast: PBS NewsHour, CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show (diversity segments)

Podcast networks: Frequent guest on other social justice and communication podcasts

Podcasts:

Social Justice & Race:

Code Switch (NPR)

1A (NPR)

Pod Save the People

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Scene on Radio (Seeing White series)

About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge

Therapy for Black Girls

The Diversity Gap

Leading Equity

Communication & Leadership:

WorkLife with Adam Grant

The Tim Ferriss Show

Brené Brown's Unlocking Us

On Being with Krista Tippett

The Learning Leader Show

We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle

Education:

Cult of Pedagogy

The EdSurge Podcast

Truth for Teachers

The Innovative Educator

Business & Workplace:

How to Be a Better Human (TED)

HBR IdeaCast

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Coaching for Leaders

Marketing, Social Media & Digital Marketing

Author Platform & Built-in Demand:

The UPstander's Podcast with Dr. Omekongo: Top 35 Social Justice Podcast (FeedSpot)—dedicated, engaged audience

Author will promote through his social media channels

X: 14k https://x.com/omekongo

YouTube: 23k https://www.youtube.com/user/Omekongo

LinkedIn: 7.5k https://www.linkedin.com/in/omekongo/

Facebook: 5.2k https://www.facebook.com/omekongo

Instagram: 4.7k https://www.instagram.com/omekongo/

Speaking circuit: Works with corporations and school districts globally—12-20+ major engagements annually

American University position: Access to academic networks, students, faculty, alumni

30 countries of experience: International network and credibility

Southern Poverty Law Center affiliation: Association with trusted civil rights organization

Award-winning poet: Built-in arts and literary community connections

Three decades of activism: Deep roots in social justice communities

Audience

Primary Audience: The Diversity-Engaged Professional

Age: 28-55, gender-balanced, racially diverse

Profession: HR professionals, DEI officers, educators, corporate trainers, managers, executives

Education: College-educated, often advanced degrees

Responsibilities: Leading diversity initiatives, managing diverse teams, creating inclusive workplaces/classrooms

Values: Equity, inclusion, effective communication, organizational harmony, social justice

Pain points: Navigating difficult conversations about race; avoiding unintentional offense; addressing bias; managing conflict; creating psychological safety; implementing DEI programs that work

Reading habits: 10-20 books/year in leadership, diversity, communication; follows DEI thought leaders

Online behavior: LinkedIn, professional development webinars, DEI newsletters, podcasts

Secondary Audiences:

Educators & School Administrators (25-65): Teachers, principals, superintendents seeking tools for inclusive classrooms and difficult conversations with students, parents, staff

White Allies & Anti-Racist Advocates (25-70): People committed to social justice seeking to understand impact of their language and improve communication across difference

BIPOC Professionals (25-60): Seeking language to articulate experiences; tools for navigating predominantly white spaces

Community Leaders & Activists (22-65): Organizers, non-profit leaders, clergy working on social justice issues

Students (18-30): College students studying communication, sociology, ethnic studies, education

Parents (30-55): Raising children in diverse environments; wanting to discuss race and justice effectively

Interfaith & Cross-Cultural Workers (25-65): People navigating multiple cultural contexts professionally or personally

Independent Bookstore Focus:

Target stores with strong social justice and diversity sections: 

Politics & Prose (Washington, DC)—author's home market

Sankofa Video Books & Café (Washington, DC)—Black-owned

MahoganyBooks (Washington, DC)—Black-owned

Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books (Philadelphia)—Black-owned

The Lit Bar (Bronx, NY)—Black-owned

Semicolon Bookstore (Chicago)—Black-owned

Powell's Books (Portland, OR)

Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle, WA)

BookPeople (Austin, TX)

Strand Bookstore (New York, NY)

Academic & Professional Retail:

University bookstores (especially communication, education, ethnic studies programs)

American University bookstore (author's home institution)

Professional development and conference bookstores

DEI training company online stores

SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) bookstore

Specialty & Mission-Driven Retail:

Museum gift shops (African American museums, civil rights museums)

Community centers and cultural organizations

Faith-based bookstores with social justice focus

Non-profit organizations focused on racial justice

Online Retail Optimization:

Target keywords across sites (trigger words, difficult conversations race, DEI training, anti-racism, intercultural communication, inclusive language, diversity workplace, social justice, bias reduction, white fragility alternative)

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org (support independent bookstores)

GPPG website

Author's website with links to retailers

Unique Positioning: Unlike books that focus solely on calling out problematic language, Trigger Words offers a path forward—combining scholarly depth (Ph.D. research), global perspective (30 countries), artistic sensitivity (award-winning poet), and practical tools (30 years of workshops) from a trusted educator who has proven results. This is the book for people who want to DO better, not just feel worse.