Let's Talk Race

Fern L. Johnson, PhD, is Senior Research Scholar and Professor Emerita at Clark University, specializing in race, culture, and language. Her publications include Speaking Culturally and Imaging in Advertising, and many journal articles. She is a seasoned speaker and workshop facilitator. Fern co-authored, with Marlene Fine, The Interracial Adoption Option, which draws on their experience as white parents of African American sons. She lives near Boston, Massachusetts.Marlene G. Fine, PhD, is Professor Emerita at Simmons University, specializing in cultural diversity, leadership, and dialogue. She authored Building Successful Multicultural Organizations, and her articles appear in a broad range of journals. She is a seasoned speaker and workshop facilitator. Marlene co-authored, with Fern Johnson, The Interracial Adoption Option, which draws on their experience as white parents of African American sons. She lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1. Bridging the Chasm— Starting the Conversation about RaceThe Importance of Genuine ConversationWhy We Need to Talk about RaceWhat's to ComeChapter 2. Identifying Racism— Where Fiction Becomes RealityTypes of RacismInterpersonal RacismInstitutional/Structural RacismInternalized RacismRacially Identified CulturesMoving the Conversation ForwardThings Not to DoThings to DoChapter 3. Erasing Our Race— Normalizing and Privileging WhitenessBeing WhiteWhite PrivilegeSeeingWhite PrivilegeWhite GuiltBeing BlackThe Gulf between Blacks and WhitesBridging the GulfMoving the Conversation ForwardThings Not to DoThings to DoChapter 4. Raising Your Racial IQ—What Whites Don't Know about Living in a Racialized WorldAfrican Americans in Historical ContextRacial Disparities in EducationBrown v. Board of EducationThe Curriculum Teachers and ProfessorsStudent ExperiencesRace and HealthHealth RisksMedical CareRace and the Justice SystemPolicing and Law EnforcementPrisonEvidence and DNAThe Wealth GapInstitutional/Structural Racism and WealthReducing the Wealth GapImplicationsMoving the Conversation ForwardThings Not to DoThings to DoChapter 5. Recognizing Differences— Cultural Misunderstandings and MisinterpretationsLanguage and CommunicationAfrican American EnglishNaming PracticesThe N-wordSocial Networks in African American CultureReligious and Church-Affiliated NetworksPolitical NetworksFamily NetworksSocial Affinity NetworksClothing and Hair in African American CultureClothing and StyleHair and HeritageMoving the Conversation ForwardThings Not to DoThings to DoChapter 6. Better Talk—Putting It All TogetherGuidelines for EngagementTalk Versus ActionFinding Conversational PartnersResources Moving the Conversation ForwardThings Not to DoThings to DoEndnotesIndexAbout the AuthorsA Note about the Publisher