What happens when you talk honestly about race?

“In Good Faith: Messy Conversations About Race in Black and White” is a non-profit dialogue between a white man and a black woman from different backgrounds who share a common goal of building and promoting racial understanding.”

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Talking about race in the United States is difficult and exhausting. White people feel attacked as they confront privilege, guilt and anger. Black people are tired of explaining why their lives matter. The result feels like a mine field, so that even would-be allies withdraw into the safety of their own racial group.

Messy Conversations in Good Faith is an ongoing dialogue between two people: A.J., a white man, and Kerra, a black woman. They discuss race in real time as the United States convulses through the murders of unarmed black men at the hands of police, the election of Donald Trump and its aftermath.

The conversations are raw, real and, at times, funny. But they also show how people can evolve in their understanding of themselves and each other when they remain committed to their hopes more than their fears. 

 

street art on a buidling that says "Stay Human"
A black person holds a sign that says "We are TIRED!"

Resources for Black People

Resources

Resources for White People

Resources

Five Rules for Talking About Race

Like the project itself, A.J. and Kerra did not have rules planned in advance, but they evolved out of the aftermath of their first argument. They proved effective then and in subsequent debates, especially when things got heated.

The framework includes the following “rules” or guidelines:

  1. We are friends.

  2. We talk candidly about race with a view to understanding each other's position better and furthering better dialogue on the issues between people.

  3. We both speak and listen.

  4. We don't get to hurt each other.

  5. We remain friends.