1. Talking About Race: Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, & Intergroup Dialogue as Tools to Have Difficult Conversations
Mika Karikari, Miami University,
@MikaKarikari, she/her/hers
Paul Porter, Indiana University School of he/him/his
Suresh Mudragada, Macalester he/him/his
Kristan Cilente Skendall, University of she/her/hers
Sponsored by the ACPA E&IAC
#ACPA15

2. Session Overview Introductions and Welcome Theoretical Frameworks
Case Studies
Dialogue
Applying at home
Wrap up
Suresh

3. 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
Suresh

4. Creating a Brave Space We 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)
Suresh

5. Introductions Who are you outside your title,education, etc?
What do you value?
How have you experienced your racial identity?
Suresh
8-10 Minutes for presenters to share their stories
3-5 minutes for attendees to reflect and answer these questions
10 minutes for pair so share their reflections
10 minutes for open sharing in large group

6. 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
Kristan
TEachers and learners--see how much time and bring in other views
Came from sociology and began with a view on Black feminism

7. Critical Race Theory
Critical 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)
Paul

8. Critical Race Theory
Interest 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.
Paul

9. Understanding, Relationship Building, and Commitment
Intergroup Dialogue
Facilitated face-to-face meetings between people from two or more social identity groups that have a history of conflict or potential conflict.
Goals
Promote development of consciousness about social identity and group differences
Help members of social identity groups with a history of conflict build connections across difference by establishing relationships of mutual empathy
Strengthen individual and collective capacities for social action through coalition building
Encourage Self-Reflective conversation
Rethink attitudes, assumptions, and understandings
Understanding, Relationship Building, and Commitment
Mika

10. Intergroup Dialogue Background Implementation
Generally 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)
Mika
Began at the University of Michigan and it now implemented in diverse ways at many campuses across the country.

11. 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
Mika

12. 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?
Mika

13. Reflections
Paul

14. References
Collins, 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 ). 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 ). 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.