3. Voices that monopolize to control
Allowing time for the evolutionary
process of learning
Personal dialogue history: Ah ah!
to Oh, no...
Avoiding racial polarization
4. Group size and composition
Lived experiences and objective data
Race-less identity: “I’m just an
American.”
Teach me: “Just show me how not to
sound racist!”
Your story of triumph is my memory of
shame
6. Response
Acknowledge that expressions of
anger and emotion are culturally
determined and will vary within
the dialogue group. Invite
conversation: In your culture,
what is an acceptable
expression of anger/emotion?
7. Challenge
Oftentimes, dialogue participants will have a wide variety of
personal experiences with cross-racial dialogue. Some
participants may find it new, intellectually challenging and
personally liberating.
Others may experience race dialogue as a frustrating
rehash of painful, old conversations that required great
personal vulnerability but resulted in little meaningful
change.
8. Response
Acknowledge these differing experiences openly at the
start of the dialogue program and ask participants to be
aware of these differing emotions. Talk without action is
disheartening and it compromises trust.
At the close of the dialogue, invite participants to reflect
on what they’ve learned AND how they intend to embed
their learning within their own behaviors, assumptions and
decisions. How will you apply this to your life?
