Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do we need to understand racism? We know it is wrong; shouldn't we just move on?
Q: Why must the course include six sessions over a six-week period? Wouldn't it be better to have one full-day session?
Q: We have an active diversity and cultural sensitivity program at my place of employment, with regular seminars and courses. How is this one different?
Q: What should I expect to take place during the program sessions?
Q: What kinds of organizations have participated in the program?
Q: Who are the facilitators?
A: We wish it were that easy, that by an act of will we could shake off our society's racist past and move on together in a color-blind future. But we can only change what we can see. The beliefs and behaviors that our culture developed to support economic racial dominance are complex and often unconscious. UUR dialogue participants have found that by examining where we are and how we got here, we become freer to move on.
A: The facilitators are past participants of the program . They are volunteers who have been trained to stimulate dialogue between the participants. They possess a strong awareness and understanding the issues surrounding racism and equality in our society and use this as a starting point to build discussion during the sessions.
A: During the program sessions trained volunteer facilitators will initiate and maintain dialogue concerning issues regarding racism, prejudice, and discrimination. Reading materials and videos will also be introduced into the sessions to assist in the dialogue.
A: We cannot reach our goal in one session. Our meetings are based on the premise that true understanding of one's innermost prejudices and biases comes with (a) honest thinking about the problem over a period of time, (b) forthright discussions with others, and (c) an exposure to selected readings, videotapes and other materials that are designed to awaken awareness. We believe that one-shot cultural diversity training sessions--however good they make the participants feel--are not effective in reaching the core area of racial discrimination--the subconscious biases that exist in most of us.
A: This program takes a personal approach, which many of our most diversity-experience participants have found to be truly unique and meaningful. We have found that the most well-intentioned people (ourselves included), have racism within them that they (we) are not aware of. Discovering, and continuing to discover that racism, and taking steps to reduce it, is a difficult process. Our volunteer facilitators have been through the series and made those discoveries. In the sessions they facilitate, they help others to do the same.
A: Local businesses, schools, government, and nonprofit organizations have all participated in the program before to bring awareness to the difficult issues surrounding racism and equality.
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