Genesis 1:8 || Meditate the Scripture daily verse by verse
Talking About Race: Moving Toward a Transformative Dialogue
1. Talking About Race: Moving Toward a Transformative Dialogue Tom Rudd, Senior Researcher Student-Faculty-Staff Brown Bag Michael E. Moritz College of Law February 5, 2009
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22. Strategies for Effective Inter-Racial Dialogue About Race STRATEGY RATIONALE Don’t hold individuals or groups accountable for institutionalized racialized outcomes “ Finger pointing” stimulates anger, guilt, and resentment Reject false dichotomies The world is not simply “black or white” Don’t make assumptions about the racial attitudes or political ideology of others Focusing on individual attitudes obscures an understanding of the structural nature of racial inequality Look for commonalities across groups Our common humanity transcends political ideology Stress the importance of “structural racialization” and consider how racialized outcomes affect everyone, not just people of color People care more about issues when they can see how they are impacted
23. Strategies for Effective Inter-Racial Dialogue About Race STRATEGY RATIONALE Stress “equal opportunity” as a common goal for all Americans Frame the conversation so that everyone is a stakeholder Avoid “exceptionalism” There have always been some highly successful people in every group; this fact does not mitigate racial inequality When discussing race-based inequality, focus on desired outcomes, not just on present disparities Information about racialized disparities can actually reinforce racial stereotypes Challenge people to acknowledge that we all harbor some degree of “implicit bias” Left unchallenged, unconscious negative attitudes gain power Avoid stereotypes Stereotypes are almost always false
24. Strategies for Effective Inter-Racial Dialogue About Race STRATEGY RATIONALE Acknowledge that while we must work for a time when race does not affect opportunity, right now, it does… Despite the fact the we have elected an African American President, race still matters in America Use narratives over numbers Personal narratives can have greater impact than hard data on stimulating attitudes shifts Avoid framing issues around “what’s fair”—use “equal opportunity” instead “ Fairness” has different meanings to different people In group discussions, set guidelines that ensure mutual respect and civility Even the most contentious conversation can be civil
GOOD AFTERNON. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK DEAN MICHAELS AND ASSOCIATE DEAN SOLOMON FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I AM TOM RUDD, A SENIOR RESEARCHER AT THE KIRWAN INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RACE AND ETHNICITY. I HAVE SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY FOR FOUR YEAR. PRIOR TO JOINING THE STAFF OF THE INSTITUTE …….. THE KIRWAN INSTITUTE IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION HERE AT OSU. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOHN POWELL, HOLD THE WILLIAMS CHAIR INS CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERITIES HERE AT MORITZ. FROM DAY TO DAY, WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE WORK THAT RACE DOES IN OUR SOCIETY AND NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT, TALK ABOUT AND ACT ON RACE SO THAT WE CAN IMAGINE AND REALIZE A TRUE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY—A SOCIETY IN WHICH OPPORTUNITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY RACE AND WHERE EVERY PERSON RECOGNIZED THE RESPONSIBILITY SHE HAS FOR THE WELFARE OF EVERY OTHER PERSON. IN THIS PRESENTATION I WILL PRESENT SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN A TRANSFORMATIVE DIALOGUE ON RACE AND WHY THAT IS SO DIFFICULT. SOME OF THESE IDEAS MAY BE NEW; IDEALLY SOME WILL NOT… ONE OF THE REASONS THIS DISCUSSION IS DIFFICULT IS THAT AT ITS BASE WE ARE DEALING WITH AN ABSTRACT AND, AT TIMES, ARBITRARY CONSTRUCT THAT HAS TREMENDOUS POWER IN OUR SOCIETY. WHAT IS RACE????
Use this example: “ The American Education Institute reports that African American students score lower than White students on standardized tests. EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT OR The American Institute of Geneticists reports that African American students score lower than White Students on standardized tests. BIOLOGICAL RACE FRAME Same information—different frame…