The portrayal of Lord Corlys Velaryon by Steve Toussaint in the HBO series House of the Dragon by a black actor has sparked recent controversy since the show began airing in August of 2022.

The series is set about 200 years before the events of  Game of Thrones which began production and casting back in 2007. Much has changed since then.

Lord Corlys Velaryon is the head of House Velaryon, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms, and Master of Ships to King Viserys Targaryen. The portrayal of a wealthy, powerful noble by a person of color has created a great deal of discussion among viewers who may not be ready yet to accept people of color in seemingly white dominated worlds.

Toussaints’ reaction to this criticism was, “They are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy? That’s beyond the pale.” Surely this is only one of many examples of the impact that DEI has made in television, film and media.

Rosann Santos is a FranklinCovey consultant and facilitator for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Unconscious Bias and Sensitivity Training. She provides highly effective workshops to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and society to the most prominent organizations in the world such as Amazon, Goodyear®, and Oracle.

FranklinCovey is an organization that transforms people and organizations by building exceptional leaders, teams, and cultures that get results through their consultants. The organization utilizes certified consultants to deliver its content to those who wish to:

• Developer their leaders.
• Engage their people.
• Build a winning culture.
• Achieve breakthrough results.

Rosann Santos is a bilingual Spanish/English keynote speaker, FranklinCovey Facilitator for DEI and Gallups Strengths Coach based in New York City who has delivered keynotes across the world. She has delivered keynote addresses to professional organizations, educational institutions, career-development and higher learning audiences from every walk of life. She is committed in assisting students, professionals and industry experts excel in their academic and professional growth – especially women.

1. You can walk in and no one notices.

2. You can walk in and you’re noticed for the wrong reasons.

3. Or you can walk in as the crowd parts for you to walk by.

Her specialty is to empower, enlighten and embolden women in ways that are positive and beneficial for their future.

 

Notable organizations who have hired Rosann:

• Amazon
• Goodyear®
• Oracle
• UC San Diego
• Syracuse
• ATF
• National Geographic Society
• SJC
• State Farm
• NASPA
• Gallup/Clifton Strengths Summit
• Franklin Covey
• Command the Room
• San Antonio
• NYU Student Link Staff
• 2020 Faculty Women of Color in the Academy Conference, Blacksburg VA
• 2020 Southeastern LatinX Student Leadership Conference, Cullowhee, NC

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Committed to helping professionals from all walks of life excel in their education and careers, I am among the few NYC based, high-impact motivational keynote speakers who can deliver a highly tailored keynote address to professionals, college students and career-minded individuals. I provide high quality professional development workshops; seminars for professional staff training; and motivational, interactive conversations for high school students and their families.

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