In this essay, I reflect on my experience at the 2015 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA) Conference to highlight how communication at academic conferences may negatively influence (emotion graft) out-group or minority participants. In this paper, I will discuss the following topics: (1) the acute implicit bias made explicit in Dr. Manago's response to my mention of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement while chairing a session at the 2015 SSEA Conference; (2) the emotion-grafting effect her response had on me and potentially other minority scholars; (3) how her biased response led to missed opportunities for SSEA to be inclusive and innovative while increasing membership and revenue; and (4) the current state of the global response to the BLM movement.