1. Racial Conflict: An Opportunity to Stretch and Decide
Naomi White |
Professor of Instruction | School of Social Work
February 26, 2019
Racial Conflict: An Opportunity to Stretch and Decide

2. Racial conflict is an opportunity to ask really tough questions about self, others, the world and the type of future desired.
What if we changed the narrative, paused, pointed fingers at self, and made a conscious decision to stretch and change?
What if I stretched and made a decision that begins with me?

3. Reference
Bazirake, J. B. (2016). An empathetic approach to race-based conflicts. Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, 28(4),

4. Empathetic Approach
the crucial component of conflict occurs as a result of clashes in strategies that are intended to meet needs.

5. Empathetic Approach
Modeled around the seminal works of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg ( ) on Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

6. Empathetic Approach to Race Conflicts
potential exist for effective responses to
challenge social inequalities,
injustices, and
streams of violence,
racial conflict -response mechanisms- aimed at meeting “Needs.”

7. Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Step #1
identify behaviors and/or actions that trigger emerging reactions, without preconceived notions and judgment of the original actions.
Clear Observation
To identify observations as triggers, rather than causes of the feelings that may arise.

8. NVC
Observations – move away from the influence of preconceptions and evaluations | Race-based conflict
Substantially assist in reducing potential for conflict

9. NVC Step #2 Clear Observation
identification and recognition of feelings, and in this case, feelings that surface in incidences within which racial conflict occurs.
Clear Observation
feelings are considered as vital involuntary sets of emotions that are triggered by an observable (series of) action(s) or thoughts.

10. NVC
“Feelings, according to the empathic approach, ought to therefore be received as a “gift” in the sense that they are reliable indicators of what is important to individuals and groups of people: their needs” (Bazirake, 2016, p. 463).

11. Two categories Step #3 feelings as legitimate feedback prompts
Unmet needs
Needs met
Draw attention to:
Step #3
feelings as legitimate feedback prompts
indicates importance to the individual & demands their attention

12. Clear. Positive. Doable. Present-oriented
NVC
Step #4
Racial conflicts must be challenged.
Clear. Positive. Doable. Present-oriented
To come up with strategies, individual, group, or structural levels, the knowledge of the needs to be addressed is vital

13. Negotiate Meet underlying needs
Demands of what should or should not be done
Building strategies that support understanding
Build commonality of purpose

14. Racial conflict is an opportunity to ask really tough questions about self, others, the world and the type of future desired. OBSERVE
What if we changed the narrative, paused, pointed fingers at self, and made a conscious decision to stretch and change? EXAMINE THE UNDERLYING NEED
What if I stretched and made a decision that begins with me? ATTEMPT TO MEET UNDERLYING NEED BY ASKING QUESTIONS… BELOW THE ICEBERG
What if?

15. I Stretch
What if?

16. Questions