Nicholas Youngberg and Kudzai Kapurura (Peter Julian)
For almost two years, small groups of Boston College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have regularly held conversations about issues of racial justice.
Lasting usually about 90 minutes apiece, the conversations are civil, generally friendly, participants say, though not without awkwardness or tension given the subject matter. Nobody argues that his or her view is the correct one, or that someone else鈥檚 is the wrong one. Nobody tries to insist he or she has a perfect solution to the problems under discussion. And one of the most important objectives of the conversations is that those involved truly listen鈥攁nd listen to understand rather than just to respond鈥攅ven though it may be uncomfortable to hear what鈥檚 being said.
Both speaking and listening takes a certain amount of fortitude, participants say, hence the name of this ongoing dialogue: Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice.
The 51茶馆 program鈥攁 partnership between the Office of the Provost, Office for Institutional Diversity, Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America, and Environmental Studies Program鈥攊s based on a protocol for interracial dialogue developed by author, consultant, and strategist Glenn E. Singleton and used as a model in various settings, from educational institutions to businesses to community groups. With a concise format and set of guidelines to follow, each 鈥淐C@51茶馆鈥� meeting鈥攚hether in person or, as has been the case during the pandemic, over Zoom鈥攊s constructed as a thoughtful exploration of a specific topic or theme: racial justice and COVID-19, the sensationalism of Black pain, the 2020 election, mass incarceration and racial inequality, and artistic achievements of BIPOC, among others.
聽鈥淐ourageous Conversations has taught me the importance of patience and listening,鈥� said Gia Mitcham 鈥�23, a communication major and marketing minor from Floral Park, NY. 鈥淚 know that for myself and other students of color, it can be mentally taxing to consistently hear and talk about racism and colorism and discrimination鈥攂ut education isn鈥檛 easy. And education and understanding are key to making significant change, even if it can be an unfair burden.鈥�
Organizers emphasize that the CC@51茶馆 series aims to complement, not overshadow, other dialogues and initiatives on campus pertaining to racial justice. A key outcome, they note, is that each participant considers his or her individual role in addressing the challenges outlined during the session鈥攁n invitation not to change the world, just his or her small part鈥� of it.
Conevery Valencius and Akua Sarr (Peter Julian)
鈥淭he work of anti-racism is initially internal, and that鈥檚 what we keep the focus on,鈥� said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr. 鈥淵es, it鈥檚 important to think and talk about institution-wide solutions, but that鈥檚 not the point of this group. The idea is to do that internal work and say, 鈥業鈥檓 on the hiring committee for my department. Maybe now I鈥檒l think about hiring differently.鈥� Or 鈥業鈥檓 teaching this course, and I realize I don鈥檛 include very many authors of color, and I should change that.鈥� Or 鈥楳y neighbors are Black, and I鈥檝e never spoken with them.鈥� Or 鈥榃e never talk about race at the dinner table; I should start having these kinds of discussions with my kids.鈥� You are the change.鈥�
History Professor Conevery Bolton Valencius said CC@51茶馆 responds to a hunger among many people in the 51茶馆 community to talk about race, not simply as a reaction to current events but as an ongoing dialogue鈥攁nd to the desire among students of color to have their white peers face up to the challenge of having those conversations. 鈥淚鈥檝e heard from many white students that they want to have those conversations, but feel they don鈥檛 have the vocabulary, and they鈥檙e afraid of saying something 鈥榳rong.鈥� What we need is to engage with each other and to have a space in which we can say, 鈥楲et鈥檚 talk about this really challenging stuff.鈥欌�� 聽
A meeting begins with group facilitators outlining the topic or theme for the evening (approximately two dozen faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students receive training as facilitators). A facilitator introduces an 鈥渁rtifact,鈥� such as a video clip, sound recording, or excerpt from a book or article, that serves as a starting point for the conversation. Participants then break into small groups for an in-depth discussion, typically with specific framing questions that encourage members to personally engage the subject, such as 鈥淲here do we fit into this situation? What can we do to rectify it?鈥� Each small group is co-led by one person of color and one white person, including faculty, staff, and students.
The full group reconvenes to share impressions and observations, and facilitators suggest resources for further exploration and ask all to consider what kind of individual actions might make a difference in addressing issues related to that evening鈥檚 topic.
鈥淭he CC model is not a teach-in or a workshop,鈥� said Tara Pisani Gareau, an associate professor of the practice in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, among those in the 51茶馆 community whose grassroots efforts for campus discussions on race led to establishment of the CC program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about coming together on equal ground, and whether you鈥檙e an administrator, a faculty member, or a student doesn鈥檛 matter鈥攖here鈥檚 no hierarchy. Everyone is on a first-name basis.鈥�
“I鈥檓 realizing how important conversations are. People will walk away with these challenges and these heart-to-heart moments, and hopefully will think about racial justice in ways they might not have before. There鈥檚 something positive in the air and in the spirit.”
There is a discipline involved in Courageous Conversations, participants note. Guidelines ask you to 鈥渄isagree with ideas, not people,鈥� not to 鈥渟hame, blame, or attack,鈥� and to respect confidentiality. One of the biggest challenges to the CC concept is to stay focused on the planned topic, and not simply react viscerally to troubling events on campus or elsewhere. Facilitators, however, may acknowledge these at the outset of the meeting or incorporate them into the discussion, if feasible; a facilitator at the March 31 session noted the start of the Derek Chauvin trial, which he said was likely to revive painful or traumatic narratives for Black people. 聽
Salem, Ore., native Kudzai Kapurura 鈥�23, who majors in economics with minors in French and African and African Diaspora Studies, came to 51茶馆 experienced in community initiatives on race鈥攊ncluding one through her state鈥檚 board of education鈥攁nd was intrigued when she saw CC being offered as a placement through 51茶馆鈥檚 PULSE program.
She was not without qualms. As a Black female, she has often found it 鈥渆xhausting鈥� to continually describe for others the negative impact of racism on her. Moreover, as Sarr notes, Black people in interracial forums can feel as if it is their burden to 鈥渢each鈥� and represent the wider Black community, instead of being viewed as individuals with their own unique stories and needs.
But Kapurura has enjoyed being part of the program. 鈥淚鈥檓 realizing how important conversations are. People will walk away with these challenges and these heart-to-heart moments, and hopefully will think about racial justice in ways they might not have before. There鈥檚 something positive in the air and in the spirit.鈥�
Sadie Blanco 鈥�21, a Santa Ana, Calif., native majoring in history with an International Studies minor, said that before Courageous Conversations she had felt 鈥渦nsuccessful and exhausted in attempts to create effective and productive change on topics of racial justice. Now, we have the strength of people from all over 51茶馆 and even outside of 51茶馆 who want to talk about important issues that affect Black lives and communities in the U.S. I feel motivated and ready to continue racial justice advocacy and work when I leave 51茶馆.鈥�
鈥淭he tone of Courageous Conversations isn鈥檛 centered around outrage,鈥� said Nicholas Youngberg, a junior economics major from Austin, Tex., with minors in marketing and philosophy. 鈥淥utrage in the face of racial injustice is understandable, but sometimes it鈥檚 so overwhelming that it stifles dialogue. Courageous Conversations really is a conversation鈥攖here鈥檚 no pressure to say something revolutionary, or to be afraid that you might say something 鈥榳rong.鈥� If someone corrects you, you don鈥檛 take it personally; you鈥檙e there to learn.鈥�
Youngberg and Kapurura鈥攂oth of whom, along with Blanco, are CC facilitators鈥攁lso applaud the presence of 51茶馆 faculty and administrators in the discussions.
聽鈥淚t makes me feel heard and feel safe to know that someone like [Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Formation] Tom Mogan is there,鈥� said Kapurura. 鈥淭here is certainly more work to be done, but it鈥檚 a step in the right direction to see and hear administrators at Courageous Conversations. They set the tone for how students perceive 51茶馆鈥檚 commitment to racial justice.鈥�
For more information about the series, visit the Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice website.
Sean Smith | University Communications | April 2021