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Racism has always been a hot topic of numerous debates and conversations across the United States of America for decades. The issue of racism and discrimination is deeply rooted in the history and development of the United States due to its origins. However, the American education system is making effective attempts towards addressing the problem of segregation. Many young students getting rid of the main cultural prejudices because American universities are implementing programs and discussions to allow the exchange of ideas (Warikoo & Novais, 2015). Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey are among pioneer professors who are trying to generate a platform for free conversation and cultural introduction. Conversations from Penn State gives an opportunity to take a glimpse at their ambitious and scrupulous work. Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey, who happen to be married, are the educators at Penn State University. They form a group of multicultural students who are willing to openly and honestly discuss and explore the complex and personal topics related to ethnicity and race. The key message of their approach is that every member of the discussion is both a student and a teacher.
Starting a genuine conversation about race and racism has always been a difficult task to do due to a high risk of misunderstanding and offense. The possibility of failure is present at both sides of the ethnic majority and minority. The problem lies in the lack of an agenda and encouragement of an open discussion. This is especially true regarding the White people of the United States because many of them are taught to avoid the given topic of race (Rissing, 2017). For example, in my case, I do find it challenging to freely talk about the race, simply because I feel highly uncomfortable bringing up the subject. In addition, there is always a chance to get labeled a racist or bigot, therefore I prefer putting the subject aside. On numerous occasions, I have found myself having trouble delivering my opinion to people of other ethnic backgrounds. It has always seemed inappropriate to express my view on the subject and that it did not worth the risk of being named racist. Although I realize that avoiding the given issue is not a solution, it keeps people from many possible problems and failures.
Throughout my life, I have observed the problem of White people expressing their opinion about race and its consequences. The key underlying issue is an environment of upbringing and nurture because most White people are brought up and told to avoid the topic of racism. Whereas Black people directly experience discrimination throughout their life, thus allowing them to speak up about the problem naturally and freely. Although I possess a more reserved personality and avoid many controversial subjects, my friends and classmates have been a clear example of seeing the difference in attitude towards the topic of racism. White friends of mine are always careful and polite with other ethnicities, and they usually keep the conversation flowing on highly common and frivolous issues. On the other hand, Black friends of mine are more direct and open to discuss the issue of racism, and they are always willing to share their view and experience with it. The main problem with White people’s shyness is that they are at a higher risk of being called racist and bigot if they happen to be misunderstood.
Open conversation is a simple, but highly useful tool to resolve and change social tensions and attitudes. The main task is building a secure platform for people to speak up and share their authentic experiences (Warikoo & Novais, 2015). It is important to realize that the conversation needs to be fair and safe for the speakers; thus, it has to be conducted by unbiased and open-minded educators (Posselt, 2018). For instance, Laurie Mulvey claims that the key part of a conversation is the discussion itself regardless of the underlying topic. She states that “by sharing ideas and experiences a person experiences and begins understanding more significant societal problems” (WPSU, 2011). However, Sam Richard emphasizes the importance of a “spark” by which he means the point of realizing the student experiences during the class (WPSU, 2011). He mentions occasions that happened in his classroom when students started to understand other people’s perspective and bring their own ideas to the table (WPSU, 2011). Both professors encourage the students to open up and get involved in a conversation, thus the teachers allow them to explore other views and opinions.
People can be influenced and understood if the necessary environment is created to allow them to speak up. Both Laurie Mulvey and Sam Richards draw a conclusion that most of the results of these conversations are profound and life-changing. For example, Laurie Mulvey mentions a talk she had with a female student of White ethnicity (WPSU, 2011). Professor asks her why she avoids talking about racism. The student replies that she was told not to speak about it, even though the consequences are minor. In addition, interviewer and Sam Richard bring up the case of a White college student girl who confessed to her Black friends that most of her friends and family members are racist. Despite her expectation offending minority group, Black students simply asked her to openly talk about it without keeping it a secret. This example shows how open are minority groups to discuss the underlying problems with White folks.
Furthermore, Laurie Mulvey also mentions the issue of Black people expecting White people being racist and bigoted. During her lectures, Black students frequently confess that they were taught to assume all White ethnic members to lack race tolerance. The main reasons behind it are that they are brought up in Black communities and they do not interact with the majority group (Carter & Murphy, 2015). Open conversation allows Black students to change their minds towards that notion. Many minority members might even suspect other politically correct White people in being a “closet racist” (WPSU, 2011). This statement means that the White person would publicly act as if he/she was not a racist, however, he/she is highly racist in the comfort of his/her family and friends.
The concept of “closet racism” has appeared in my life, where I have seen my close White friends being racist and making racist jokes, but they act highly politically correct at university and campus. They are not necessarily troubled individuals; however, they simply need some education and perspective view from minorities. Although I have never experienced harsh racism, the stereotyping was prevalent at my workplace. It was notable that even subtle racist attitude greatly hindered the team performance during important projects. After a genuine and open conversation with members of the Black community, they fully realize and understand the racism issue (Bonilla-Silva, 2015). These authentic discussions usually tend to help White people in getting rid of cultural appropriations and prejudices. The effect of an open conversation is not only bound to the topic of racism, because it can provoke tolerance and positive change in other controversial topics, such as sexism.
These changes can directly affect the managerial challenges and approaches in tackling and resolving issues of ethnicity and race. Both professors stated that they have experienced difficulties and high levels of social distress during their lectures. The main issue lied in equally representing each ethnic group regardless of historic and personal backgrounds. However, there key moments during class sessions that enable the educators to properly show many similarities among various students. Sam Richards shares profound advice on opening an open conversation with both minority and majority representatives. This can potentially have a significant impact on the lives of the people involved. He suggests being prepared to stumble and fail at numerous issues because lots of different opinions will be told (WPSU, 2011). In addition, Laurie Mulvey further emphasizes the importance of a safe and open environment. She advises people, who want to start an open conversation, to stop trying to be an educator and become a student.
In conclusion, there is a clear understanding that the issue of racism is a problematic topic to be discussed in conversations. From the personal experience as well as from the discussion of Laurie Mulvey and Sam Richards the difficulty of talking about the race for White people seem to be the most challenging. Due to the fear of being misunderstood and blamed racist, White people try to avoid those kinds of conversations. The minority members are more open to express their thoughts and have no such fears. This is the main reason why open conversations about race should be conducted. Their effect in changing people’s attitudes is discussed in Mulvey and Richards talk and found to have life-changing consequences. They say that if the environment of people who do not blame and listen to everyone is created the needed understanding of others perspective is achieved (WPSU, 2011). Open conversations that include the representatives of all social groups is the main way to change people’s behavior in a result of the real understanding of others feeling. If all of the members of conversation would be open-minded not only to teach but also be taught the issue of racism would be diminished and not raised anymore.
References
Bonilla-Silva, E. (2015). The structure of racism in color-blind, “post-Racial” America. American Behavioral Scientist, 59(11), 1358-1376.
Carter, E. R., & Murphy, M. C. (2015). Group‐based differences in perceptions of racism: What counts, to whom, and why? Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 9(6), 269-280.
Posselt, J. R. (2018). The diversity bargain and other dilemmas of race, admissions, and meritocracy at elite universities. Political Science Quarterly, 133(1), 189-201.
Rissing, B. A. (2017). Natasha K. Warikoo: The diversity Bargain and other dilemmas of race, admissions, and meritocracy at elite universities. Administrative Science Quarterly, 62(4), 51-53.
Warikoo, N. K., & Novais, J. (2015). Colour-blindness and diversity: Race frames and their consequences for white undergraduates at elite US universities. Journal of Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38(6), 860-876.
WPSU. (2011, July 25). Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey: World in Conversation – Conversations from Penn State. Web.
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