Intercultural Communication

Empathy

In the International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication (June 27th 2017), Benjamin Broom states that, "In intercultural situations, empathy is more complex and more difficult, but it is a key competency for effective intercultural communication". The author goes on to describe how empathy is an opportunity to try to imagine the life of another person. That being said, trying to understand the struggles of another is a first step to positive intercultural communication. Statement shirts or clothing such as, "I Can't Breathe" are attempting to convey a sense of empathy with the plight of African-American males in US society. Seeing another person wearing this shirt might be confusing if one does not ask about it in hope of understanding. Being sensitive to the potential underlying meaning of these kinds of cultural reference can lead to empathy.