Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race

By Derald Wing Sue

Learn to talk about race openly, honestly, and productively

Most people avoid discussion of race-related topics because of the strong emotions and feelings of discomfort that inevitably accompany such conversations. Rather than endure the conflict of racial realities, many people choose instead to avoid the topic altogether, or remain silent when it is raised. Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race puts an end to that dynamic by sharing strategies for smoothing conversations about race in a productive manner.

A guide for facilitating and participating in difficult dialogues about race, author Derald Wing Sue – an internationally recognized expert on multiculturalism, diversity, and microaggressions – explores the characteristics, dynamics, and meaning behind discussions about race as well as the hidden "ground rules" that inhibit honest and productive dialogue. Through emotional and visceral examples, this book explains why conversations revolving around racial issues are so difficult, and provides guidelines, techniques, and advice for navigating and leading honest and forthright discussions. Readers will develop a stronger ability to build rapport with people unlike themselves, and discover how not talking about race impacts society as a whole.

• Overcome and make visible the fears associated with race talk
• Learn practical ideas for talking openly about race
• Facilitate and navigate discussion with expert strategy
• Examine the hidden rules that govern race talk
• Understand the benefits of successful conversations

Discussions about race do not have to result in disastrous consequences, and can in fact be highly beneficial to all parties involved. It's important that people have the ability to converse openly and honestly with their students, colleagues, children, and neighbors, and Race Talk provides the path for achieving this goal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Jan 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781118959664

Reviews for Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence

[mcelhra · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book does an excellent job of explaining why being “color-blind” is actually harmful to improving race relations. Sue also breaks down the concept of white privilege and why it’s important for white people to be aware of their privilege. However, the book is so repetitive that reading it becomes tedious. He cites his sources within the text instead of using footnotes or endnotes and this interferes with the flow of reading the book.I didn’t agree with his section on communication styles. His source for the basis of his analysis was from 1985. I think more recent research into communication styles of different races would have been more accurate.The last thing that bothered me about this book was the overuse of the phrase” brothers and sisters”. For instance, “Persons of color, more than their White brothers and sisters, are aware of the frightening implications of this expectation.” He used this phrase dozens, maybe hundreds of times. To me, it’s too touchy -feely or just plain weird for this type of book. A small quibble but one that really irritated me as I was reading.This book has some great information but it’s overshadowed by its flaws. If it were paired down by cutting out all of the repetitive pieces., it would be a great in-depth magazine article. I think there are better books out there that make the same points as Sue.