Critical Conversations on Race
Model
The role of Jesuit education is to align our head (thoughts), heart (values), and hand (actions). Using the pedagogy of dialogue and grounded in the Jesuit mission, Critical Conversations on Race (CCOR) supports students with exploring and making meaning of their lives and experiences through the lens of race while examining how race impacts each of us on an individual, group, and systemic level. Each year our goal is to support students in building what Paulo Freire termed “critical consciousness” and what Adrienne Maree Brown calls “critical connections” over the course of a year.
Critical Conversations on Race uses a cohort model for learning inspired by University of Michigan’s Intergroup Dialogue and the Social Justice Training Institute. This dialogue series is progressive and iterative. University of San Francisco Law Professor Rhonda Magee states that “Racial justice cannot exist apart from the effort to alleviate the socially constructed, unevenly distributed suffering of all marginalized people, or what I would call ‘social justice.’ And social justice cannot exist apart from racial justice.” This dialogue series centered on race is the critical first step in the process of building awareness, knowledge, and skills to create impactful change. The goal of Critical Conversations on Race is to help Georgetown students build awareness, knowledge, and skills to take action grounded in racial and social justice.
The content of CCOR 101 sessions provide a solid foundational understanding exploring the topics of resonant listening; racial identity and cultural humility; defining and identifying the differences between individual, interpersonal, and institutionalized racism; cultural awareness; brave space and safe space; and the learning zone model.
The content of CCOR 102 sessions explore the topics of navigating microaggressions and triggers; the cycle of socialization and the cycle of liberation; implicit bias and privilege; understanding the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion; white supremacy culture and the social change ecosystem.
Contact racialjustice@georgetown.edu with any questions.
History
As Georgetown University began its long-term, and ongoing process to more deeply understand and respond to the University’s role in the injustice of slavery and the legacies of enslavement and segregation in our country, the Center for Social Justice similarly recognized its own positionality and responsibility as part of this public reconciliation. The CSJ team agreed to a Center-wide commitment to racial justice, with an initial focus on our internal organization.
In Fall 2019, the Center for Social Justice integrated STAR: Start Talking about Race dialogues as a required component for CSJ student leaders, under the leadership of then Assistant Director, Student Leadership & Racial Justice Initiatives, Whitney Maddox.
In November 2021, the CSJ hired Lionell Daggs III, our inaugural Associate Director, Racial Justice Initiatives. After an intense several months of active listening and learning, Lionell created the Critical Conversations on Race (CCoR) dialogue series for Hoya student leaders in the Center for Social Justice. For questions on CCoR, contact Lionell at ld844 (AT) georgetown.edu.
For Students
Critical Conversations on Race will take place through each academic year. These dialogues are required for CSJ students in a leadership position, including students who have allocated their Federal Work Study to their work or who volunteer as DC Reads/DC STEM, DC Schools Project, and ASK coordinators; Jumpstart Team Leaders; ABSO and ABP Board Members; SIPS Executive Committee members; Center Operations Interns; and FOCI leaders and captains.
Call for Applications for CSJ’s cohort of Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) Coordinators: Hoyas, are you interested in the opportunity to develop knowledge, awareness, and skills to host dialogue space for students, by students? We invite you to apply to become a RJI Coordinator to facilitate the Center for Social Justice Critical Conversations on Race dialogue series. The series helps participants to understand how race impacts each person on an individual, group, and systemic level. Volunteer and FWS positions available. Priority Deadline to apply is April 24, 2023; Apply here. Contact racialjustice@georgetown.edu with questions.
FAQs on Critical Conversations on Race
Students are asked to read the FAQs on Critical Conversations on Race before they attend their first CCOR sessions.
Testimonials
“[Critical Conversation on Race] has made me very introspective and reflective, evaluating how I approach the way that I speak to others and the way that I think about social justice work.”
“I think that the consistent use of ‘I’ statements in CCoR shareouts has been truly helpful in shaping the way I talk about my life experiences. I really carefully consider what I say, and to not assume that others have the same experience that I have had when speaking to others.”
“My mindset regarding these topics of social justice and privilege have definitely become more nuanced/advanced. CCoR has taught me how to critically reflect on both my position in society and the social structures I take for granted.”
“I’ve been using the content on intersectionality a lot when approaching my work in migrant communities through DCSP, as CCoR has reminded me that even though I work with these children in a specific, identity based context, that identity is not their whole life.”