Talking About Race: Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, & Intergroup Dialogue as

Tools to Have Difficult Conversations

Mika Karikari, Miami University,@MikaKarikari, she/her/hersPaul Porter, Indiana University School of Medicine

@DrPaulPorter he/him/hisSuresh Mudragada, Macalester College, @sureshmudragada, he/him/hisKristan Cilente Skendall, University of Maryland, @kskendall, she/her/hers

Sponsored by the

ACPA E&IAC

#ACPA15

Session Overview• Introductions and Welcome• Theoretical Frameworks• Case Studies • Dialogue• Applying at home• Wrap up

Our Hopes for Today • Learning about theoretical frameworks• Genuine and honest dialogue• Healing and moving forward• Creating space for conversation• Modeling process for engaging in our daily

work

Creating a Brave SpaceWe seek to engage groups with these norms:

(1) Speak your truth.

(2) Lean into discomfort and lean into each other.

(3) Commit to non-closure.

(4) Embrace paradox.

(5) Seek intentional learning, not perfection. (Source: Gulati-Partee & Potapchuk, 2014)

IntroductionsWho are you outside your title,education, etc?

What do you value?

How have you experienced your racial identity?

Intersectionality• Rooted in Crenshaw, Collins, and Dill’s work• Theoretical framework in which identities are formed,

expressed, and understood in relation to one another • Each individual possesses multiple identities and the unique

combination of those identities interplays in society in ways that differ depending upon an individual’s social identities

• Individual identities and power dynamics intersect in multiple ways

• Not an additive framework, rather a multidimensional and fluid process

Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory is a collection of activists and scholars interested in studying and transforming the relationship among race, racism, and power. Critical Race Theory “contains an activist dimension. It not only tries to understand our social situation, but to change it; it sets out not only to ascertain how society organizes itself along racial lines and hierarchies, but to transform it for the better” (Delgado & Stefancic, 2001, pg.3)

Critical Race TheoryInterest convergence- Critical Race Theory argues that the interests of African Americans and other racialized groups are only served when they intersect with interest of Whites.

Counterstorytelling- The practice of offering counter narratives that challenge the logic & assumptions of mainstream or dominant narratives. It is a political strategy which emphasizes the importance of the experience & feelings of those who are racially marginalized.

Structural Determinism- The idea that our system, by reason of its structure and vocabulary, is ill-equpped to redress certain types of wrong.

Cultural Pluralism- a condition in which minority groups participate fully in the dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences.

Intergroup DialogueFacilitated face-to-face meetings between people from two or more social

identity groups that have a history of conflict or potential conflict.

Goals1. Promote development of consciousness about social identity and group differences2. Help members of social identity groups with a history of conflict build connections

across difference by establishing relationships of mutual empathy3. Strengthen individual and collective capacities for social action through coalition

building4. Encourage Self-Reflective conversation5. Rethink attitudes, assumptions, and understandings

Understanding, Relationship Building, and Commitment

Intergroup DialogueBackground

Implementation- Generally 12-16 participants of equal social identity

group membership- Sustained and meaningful contact- Contexts may vary (weekly 2-hour meetings, academic,

credit-bearing course)- Activities include: experiential activities, reflective

essays, readings, etc)

Select U.S. Current Events

• ACPA is the NEW BLACK• Ferguson, Staten Island, Cleveland, Alabama

• Murders of Trans Women of Color• Seattle-area murder• Chapel Hill

Conversation Prompts• In what ways have current events impacted you?• How are you feeling? • Silence? Thoughts?• What do you need from this space• How have you coped?• How are your friends/family/colleagues, etc

responding to these events?

Reflections

ReferencesCollins, P.H. (2007). Pushing the boundaries or business as usual? Race, class, and gender studies and sociological inquiry. In

C.J. Calhoun (Ed.), Sociology in America: A history (pp. 572-604). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago.

Collins, P.H. (2009). Foreword. In B.T. Dill & R.E. Zambrana (Eds.), Emerging intersections: Race, class, and gender in theory, policy, and practice (pp. vii-xiii). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Delgado, R. & Stafanic, J. (2001). Critical race theory: An introduction. New York, NY: New York University Press.

Dill, B.T. (2009). Intersections, identities, and inequalities in higher education. In B.T. Dill & R.E. Zambrana (Eds.), Emerging intersections: Race, class, and gender in theory, policy, and practice (pp. 229-252). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Gulati-Partee, G. & Potapchuk, M. (2014). Paying attention to White culture and privilege: a missing link to advancing racial equity. The Foundation Review, 6(1).

Zúñiga, X. (1998). Fostering intergroup dialogue on campus: Essential ingredients. Diversity Digest, 2.

Zuniga, X. (2003). Bridging differences through dialogue. About Campus, 7(6), 8-16.