Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence

Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race

Derald Wing Sue

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781119241980, 9781118958728
• eBook ISBN: 9781118959657
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Multicultural Education
• Index: Psychology

Learn to talk about race openly, honestly, and productively

Most people avoid discussion of race-related topics because of the strong emotions and feelings of discomfort that inevitably accompany such conversations. Rather than endure the conflict of racial realities, many people choose instead to avoid the topic altogether, or remain silent when it is raised. Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race puts an end to that dynamic by sharing strategies for smoothing conversations about race in a productive manner.

A guide for facilitating and participating in difficult dialogues about race, author Derald Wing Sue – an internationally recognized expert on multiculturalism, diversity, and microaggressions – explores the characteristics, dynamics, and meaning behind discussions about race as well as the hidden "ground rules" that inhibit honest and productive dialogue. Through emotional and visceral examples, this book explains why conversations revolving around racial issues are so difficult, and provides guidelines, techniques, and advice for navigating and leading honest and forthright discussions. Readers will develop a stronger ability to build rapport with people unlike themselves, and discover how not talking about race impacts society as a whole.

• Overcome and make visible the fears associated with race talk
• Learn practical ideas for talking openly about race
• Facilitate and navigate discussion with expert strategy
• Examine the hidden rules that govern race talk
• Understand the benefits of successful conversations

Discussions about race do not have to result in disastrous consequences, and can in fact be highly beneficial to all parties involved. It's important that people have the ability to converse openly and honestly with their students, colleagues, children, and neighbors, and Race Talk provides the path for achieving this goal.

Subject Index

1. Ableism
2. Academic protocol:
   1. about
   2. empirical reality vs. experiential reality
   3. learning environment and
   4. objectivism vs. subjectivism
   5. reason vs. emotion
3. Acculturation:
   1. racial/ethnic minorities and
   2. themes of
   3. ultimate goal of
4. Active racist behavior, walkway metaphor and
5. Activist, being an
6. Advocate
7. Affirmative action:
   1. anti-affirmative action legislation
   2. reverse racism claims
8. Affirmative action program
9. Africa, slavery and
10. African American Professionals
11. African Americans. See also Blacks
    1. Asian Americans and
    2. civil rights movement and
    3. communication styles of
    4. enslavement of
    5. kinesics and
    6. microaggressive behaviors and
    7. moving next door
    8. racial reality and
    9. racial stereotypes of
    10. traveling in unknown areas
    11. trust/mistrust and
12. Ageism
13. Alger, Horatio
14. Ally. See also Personal responsibility
15. America:
    1. Black
    2. “colored”
    3. founding of
    4. as land of opportunity
16. American Indians. See Native Americans
17. American presidency. See also Clinton, Bill; Obama, Barack
    1. Black president
18. Americans. See also Native Americans
    1. Asian (see Asian Americans)
    2. Black (see Black Americans)
    3. Japanese (see Japanese Americans)
    4. “true Americans”
    5. White (see White Americans)
    6. White Euro- (see White Euro-Americans)
19. Americas, colonization efforts toward
20. Ancestors, past injustices/inequities and
21. Anger:
    1. emotional avoidance and
    2. seen as dysfunctional behavior
22. Anglo
23. Anglo-Saxon background
24. Anti-affirmative action legislation
25. Antiracism education
26. Antiracism training
27. Antiracist actions:
    1. becoming antiracist
    2. commitment to
    3. estrangement and
    4. personal responsibility and
28. Antiracist parent
29. Antiracist racial identity
30. Antiracist types
31. Anxiety, emotional avoidance and
32. Appearances, managing
33. Appeasement
34. Argumentative dialogue
35. Asian Americans. See also Chinese Americans; Japanese Americans
    1. African Americans and
    2. communication styles of
    3. contested legitimacy as “people of color”
    4. cultural differences and
    5. educational attainment
    6. hard work and
    7. Latinos/as/Hispanics and
    8. as model minority
    9. Native Americans and
    10. people of color and
    11. racial microaggressions and
    12. racial stereotypes of
    13. stereotypes and
36. Asi...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Section One: The Characteristics, Dynamics, and Meaning of Race Talk
• Section Two: The Constraining Ground Rules for Race Talk
• Section Three: Why Is It Difficult for People of Color to Honestly Talk AboutRace?
• Section Four: Why Is It Difficult for White People to Honestly Talk About Race?
• Section Five: Race Talk and Special Group Considerations
• Section Six: Guidelines, Conditions, and Solutions for Having Honest Racial Dialogues
• References
• Author Index
• Subject Index
• End User License Agreement