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- Wiley
More About This Title Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race
English
Turn Uncomfortable Conversations into Meaningful Dialogue
If you believe that talking about race is impolite, or that "colorblindness" is the preferred approach, you must read this book. Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence debunks the most pervasive myths using evidence, easy-to-understand examples, and practical tools.
This significant work answers all your questions about discussing race by covering:
- Characteristics of typical, unproductive conversations on race
- Tacit and explicit social rules related to talking about racial issues
- Race-specific difficulties and misconceptions regarding race talk
- Concrete advice for educators and parents on approaching race in a new way
"His insistence on the need to press through resistance to have difficult conversations about race is a helpful corrective for a society that prefers to remain silent about these issues."
—Christopher Wells, Vice President for Student Life at DePauw University
"In a Canadian context, the work of Dr. Derald Wing Sue in Race Talk: and the Conspiracy of Silence is the type of material needed to engage a populace that is often described as 'Too Polite.' The accessible material lets individuals engage in difficult conversations about race and racism in ways that make the uncomfortable topics less threatening, resulting in a true 'dialogue' rather than a debate."
—Darrell Bowden, M Ed. Education and Awareness Coordinator, Ryerson University
"He offers those of us who work in the Diversity and Inclusion space practical tools for generating productive dialogues that transcend the limiting constraints of assumptions about race and identity."
—Rania Sanford, Ed.D. Associate Chancellor for Strategic Affairs and Diversity, Stanford University
"Sue's book is a must-read for any parent, teacher, professor, practioner, trainer, and facilitator who seeks to learn, understand, and advance difficult dialogues about issues of race in classrooms, workplaces, and boardrooms. It is a book of empowerment for activists, allies, or advocates who want to be instruments of change and to help move America from silence and inaction to discussion, engagement, and action on issues of difference and diversity. Integrating real life examples of difficult dialogues that incorporate the range of human emotions, Sue provides a masterful illustration of the complexities of dialogues about race in America. More importantly, he provides a toolkit for those who seek to undertake the courageous journey of understanding and facilitating difficult conversations about race."
—Menah Pratt-Clarke, JD, PhD, Associate Provost for Diversity, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
English
Derald Wing Sue, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He was?Co-Founder and first President of the Asian American Psychological Association, and past President of the?Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues and the Society of Counseling Psychology. Dr Sue?serves on the Council of Elders for?Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. His current research explores the manifestation, dynamics, and impact of racial, gender, and sexual orientation microaggressions. He currently applies this research to strategies for facilitating difficult?dialogs on race in the classroom and public forums and conducts training sessions across the U.S. and Canada to help institutions improve relations among community members.
English
Preface ix
Preface to the Paperback Edition xv
Acknowledgments xix
About the Author xxi
Section One The Characteristics, Dynamics, and Meaning of Race Talk
Chapter One What is Race Talk? 3
Race Talk Represents a Potential Clash of Racial Realities 7
Race Talk Pushes Emotional Hot Buttons 11
Race Talk Evokes Avoidance Strategies 13
Why is Successful Race Talk Important? 16
Chapter Two The Characteristics and Dynamics of Race Talk 18
What Are Characteristics of Race Talk? 21
How Do Societal Ground Rules (Norms) Impede Race Talk? 23
Why is Race Talk So Difficult and Uncomfortable for Participants? 27
Conclusions 33
Chapter Three The Stories We Tell: White Talk Versus Back Talk 35
Race Talk: Narratives and Counter-Narratives 37
Telling on Racism: Unmasking Ugly Secrets 38
Section Two The Constraining Ground Rules for Race Talk
Chapter Four “The Entire World’s a Stage!” 55
The Politeness Protocol and Race Talk 57
The Academic Protocol and Race Talk 64
Chapter Five Color-Blind Means Color-Mute 74
Color-Evasion: “We Are All the Same Under the Skin” 78
Stereotype-Evasion: “I Don’t Believe in Those Stereotypes” 82
Power-Evasion: “Everyone Can Make It in Society, If They Work Hard Enough” 86
Myth of the Melting Pot 89
Section Three Why is it Difficult for People of Color to honestly talk about race?
Chapter Six “What Are the Consequences for Saying What I Mean?” 95
Ethnocentric Monoculturalism 99
Power and Oppression 105
Chapter Seven “To Speak or How to Speak, That is the Question” 112
Communication Styles 115
Nonverbal Communication 118
Nonverbal Communication in Race Talk: Sociopolitical Considerations 121
Being Constrained and Silenced: Impact on People of Color 123
Conclusions 127
Section Four Why is It Difficult for White People to Honestly Talk About Race?
Chapter Eight “I’m Not Racist!” 131
Cognitive Avoidance—Racism Denial 133
Emotional Avoidance—Fear, Guilt, and Other Feelings 138
Behavioral Avoidance—Helplessness and Hopelessness 142
Emotional Roadblocks to Race Talk 144
Chapter Nine “I’m Not White; I’m Italian!” 147
What Does It Mean to Be White? 148
The Invisibility of Whiteness: What Does It Mean? 152
The Fear of Owning White Privilege 154
Fear of Taking Personal Responsibility to End Racism: Moving From Being Nonracist to Becoming Antiracist 159
Section Five Race Talk and Special Group Considerations
Chapter Ten Interracial/Interethnic Race Talk: Difficult Dialogues Between Groups of Color 167
Interracial/Interethnic Relationship Issues 169
Race Talk: Fears of Divide and Conquer 171
Sources of Conflict Between People of Color 174
Chapter Eleven Race Talk and White Racial Identity Development: For Whites Only 186
Developing a Nonracist and Antiracist Racial Identity 189
White Racial Identity Development and Race Talk 202
Section Six Guidelines, Conditions, and Solutions for Having Honest Racial Dialogues
Chapter Twelve Being an Agent of Change: Guidelines for Educators, Parents, and Trainers 209
Talking to Children About Race and Racism 213
Guidelines for Taking Personal Responsibility for Change 214
Chapter Thirteen Helping People Talk About Race: Facilitation Skills for Educators and Trainers 226
Ineffective Strategies: Five Things Not to Do 230
Successful Strategies: Eleven Potentially Positive Actions 234
References 245
Author Index 260
Subject Index 266
