Tina M. Harris

Facilitating Interracial Dialogues About Race presents an exploration into the lived experiences of people in organizations conducting interracial dialogues on race. Utilizing focus groups, interviews, and other primary materials, the book highlights facilitators' voices to examine the processes and challenges involved in holding these essential conversations within a sociopolitical climate fueled by racial disparities and reckonings. The first part of the book examines the dynamics of interracial co-facilitation, and the roles of facilitators and Circle keepers, in building a "container" for such dialogues. Facilitators discuss the conditions necessary for fruitful discussions that aim to balance power dynamics and invite more honesty and curiosity. The second part reveals specific communication practices, such as engaged listening and grounding, which play pivotal roles in the efficacy of these dialogues and can be applied to intergroup communication more broadly. They work together to help people focus on our shared humanity while understanding important differences in life experience. Facilitating Interracial Dialogues About Race is ideal for coursework related to group and interpersonal communication studies, race relations, social work, and diversity training programs. Its content serves as both a research compendium and a practical guide for scholars, practitioners, students at undergraduate and graduate levels, and all those seeking to better engage in, understand, and facilitate interracial discussions on race.

Dismantling Racism: One Relationship at a Time inspires and challenges readers to think critically about racism and its impact on themselves and others in complex and nuanced ways. With a commitment to an inverted approach to racism, Tina M. Harris’ trickle-down theory illustrates the interconnection between racist ideologies and interracial relationships. The example of interracial romantic relationships as an illustration of how societal attitudes dictate interracial relationships shows how trickle-down theory brings to the surface a person’s and society’s true attitudes about race. The theory further demonstrates how all of our interpersonal connections are a testament of racial socialization processes and how we manage our interracial interactions and relationships. Celebrating the power of interracial communication to dismantle forms of systemic oppression, the book provides essential vocabulary for both societal misconceptions and transformative practices of interpersonal conversation. The book culminates in the racial intentionality roadmap (RaIR), a self-reflexive guide to immediately and repeatedly identifying ways to help eradicate racism in all the spaces we occupy. Ultimately, Dismantling Racism challenges readers to develop authentic, organic interracial relationships that translate into changes in systems that perpetuate racial division.

Dismantling Racism: One Relationship at a Time inspires and challenges readers to think critically about racism and its impact on themselves and others in complex and nuanced ways. With a commitment to an inverted approach to racism, Tina M. Harris’ trickle-down theory illustrates the interconnection between racist ideologies and interracial relationships. The example of interracial romantic relationships as an illustration of how societal attitudes dictate interracial relationships shows how trickle-down theory brings to the surface a person’s and society’s true attitudes about race. The theory further demonstrates how all of our interpersonal connections are a testament of racial socialization processes and how we manage our interracial interactions and relationships. Celebrating the power of interracial communication to dismantle forms of systemic oppression, the book provides essential vocabulary for both societal misconceptions and transformative practices of interpersonal conversation. The book culminates in the racial intentionality roadmap (RaIR), a self-reflexive guide to immediately and repeatedly identifying ways to help eradicate racism in all the spaces we occupy. Ultimately, Dismantling Racism challenges readers to develop authentic, organic interracial relationships that translate into changes in systems that perpetuate racial division.

This Third Edition of Interracial Communication: Theory Into Practice guides readers in applying the contributions of recent communication theory to improving everyday communication among the races. Authors Mark P. Orbe and Tina M. Harris offer a comprehensive, practical foundation for dialogue on interracial communication, as well as a resource that stimulates thinking and encourages readers to become active participants in dialogue across racial barriers. Part I provides a foundation for studying interracial communication and includes chapters on the history of race and racial categories, the importance of language, the development of racial and cultural identities, and current and classical theoretical approaches. Part II applies this information to interracial communication practices in specific, everyday contexts, including friendships, romantic relationships, the mass media, and organizational, public, and group settings. This Third Edition includes the latest data, new research studies and examples, all-new photos, and important new topics.