Due to the complexity of the issues raised in the film, each week leading up to the screening, we will suggest a few ways to begin thinking about our perspectives of and experiences with race and racism.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Talking about race can feel uncomfortable for some of us and it can be difficult to describe our feelings. We often hear people say that they are “offended” by another person’s comments. Consider the distinction between feeling offended - because something feels hurtful to us - and feeling defensive - because we are feeling attacked.
We might want to consider the following internal questions as we participate in difficult conversations:
1. Am I being defensive? Why do I feel under attack? OR
2. Am I feeling offended because of someone’s words or actions?
3. Under either circumstance, what is the intention behind my words and actions?
4. Regardless of my intention, what is the impact of my words and actions?
How do you define the following words? Race, Ethnicity, Racism, Bigotry, Prejudice
Each of our individual responses will vary and overlap. The post-screening discussion, will demonstrate how we don’t all define these words in the same way.
Next week: Re-Thinking Privilege