Role plays used 11/17 in Roundtable Brainstorming Discussions

[Mary Hammond]

Hi folks,

If you missed the Role-Playing Session, or you came and want to think more about these scenarios and didn't save a copy of them, here they are. Also, people present were free to bring "their own stories" of situations they had encountered with others that they needed help thinking through a response for. Those were also very rich...Mary

HOW MIGHT YOU RESPOND?

Scenarios on race

11/14/17

Laurie, who is white, is repeating to another white friend the story of an interaction with her black friend, Rhonda. “Rhonda told me that what I had said made her feel invisible as a black person, and she felt very hurt. To her, it seemed like I was stereotyping black people, too.” Laurie continues talking about this incident to her white friend, saying, “Well, I didn’t mean it the way she took it. Black people are just too sensitive. They need to get over it.” How might you respond to Laurie?

John, who is white, asks his white friend, David, what he is doing on Tuesday night. David responds, “Oh, I’m going to this study group at Peace Community Church on a book called Waking up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race.” John looks startled and replies, “Interesting, but I wouldn’t need that. I’m color-blind. I don’t see race, only the human race.” How might you respond to John’s comment?

Todd, who is white, talks to his white friend, Ralph, about how helpful the Study Group on Waking up White has been for him. “Did you think about coming?” he asks Ralph, who replies, “Oh, I wouldn’t come to a Study Group like that because I didn’t want to go to something where I am just made to feel guilty about being white.” How might you respond to Ralph? 

Gloria, who is white, comes to a Study Group where the issue of race is the main topic of discussion. She looks around and sees mostly other white people in the crowd and says, “Where are all the black people? I could learn more about this topic from black people than from white people.” How might you respond to Gloria?

A white person named Clifford comes to a Community Conversation where the topic of race comes up, and he protests, “There is no point in talking about racism. I’ve listened to this talk all my life. Talk, talk, talk, all we do is talk. Why don’t we just DO something instead?” How might you respond to Clifford? 

A long-time white community member is talking with another white person, newer to the town, at a Peace Vigil. They begin discussing a recent controversy in the community that includes many angles, race being one of them. “What does the black community think about this?” the newer resident asks the long-time resident. How might the long-time community member respond?

A white person comes up to a black visitor at a Community Conversation about race and you overhear that person saying, “We have been talking about this topic for three weeks! Don’t you think we have talked about this enough?” How might you respond?

Sally is looking at her facebook feed, and notices that her 14-year old cousin has posted something very racist, and she is appalled. Sally knows that her cousin is likely repeating something she’s heard before, possibly from adult family members. She doesn’t see her cousin often, but she will see her at Thanksgiving. Sally wants to speak to her in person about this facebook post rather than just respond on facebook. How might Sally respond?

Janice is at her parents’ house, and she overhears her mother talking with a friend about the N word. Her mom, who is a white woman, says, “I don’t understand why they all can use that word. It’s a foul word. I don’t think they should use it. I mean, if they don’t want us to use it, why do they use it?” How might Janice respond?