Other DiscussionStopping Concerns Frances E Kendall PhD 2008 Frances E Kendall PhD 2 Strategies for Response As you prepare for your class spend time thinking about what your ID: 498013
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "“What If ‘They’ Call Me a Racist?..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
“What If ‘They’ Call Me a Racist?” and
Other Discussion-Stopping Concerns
Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D. Slide2
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
2
Strategies for Response
As you prepare for your class, spend time thinking about what your
real
fear is about being called a racist.
*
*
I am using race as a model. The same strategies apply to dealing with all areas of identity-based oppression.Slide3
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
3
Strategies for Response
Think through your fear to its natural conclusion (as opposed to your imagined one). What is the worst that could really happen? What would you do then?Slide4
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
4
Strategies for Response
Think about the impact that your color, gender, role and/or position have on how others hear what you say. Slide5
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
5
Strategies for Response
What weight do your words carry simply on the basis of who you are and what you look like? How does who you are grant you institutional privileges that others aren't granted?Slide6
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
6
Strategies for Response
Remember, it is not our
intent
that others are affected by; it is our
behavior
. So, even if our intent is good (from our perspective), the only thing others have to go on is our behavior.Slide7
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
7
Strategies for Response
Introduce issues of race (gender, heterosexism) yourself throughout the semester.Slide8
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
8
Strategies for Response
Acknowledge from the start ways that racism impacts all aspects of an institution.Slide9
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
9
Strategies for Response
If you are called a racist,
don't say
"I am not!" or "This has nothing to do with race." Both are conversation-stopping responses that lead to a power struggle rather than to genuine dialogue.Slide10
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
10
Strategies for Response
Another response to the person calling you a racist might be, "That is what I am here to learn about." What we need to know are the specific behaviors that are upsetting the person speaking to us. We also need for the person to know that we are taking her/his concerns seriously.Slide11
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
11
Strategies for Response
If you are a white person, telling a person of color when something does, or does not, have to do with race, can be experienced as:
silencing
arrogant
denying someone's experienceSlide12
©
2008, Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D.
12
Strategies for Response
Remember: Race is
always
a possible element in an interaction; it is not always
the
issue, but it is always a possibility and it needs to be held as such.