Dialogues on Racial Justice
One of the most important challenges we face right now in American culture is the deep and systemic problem of racism. At the National Paideia Center, we believe that genuine dialogue is the antidote to racism.
Accordingly, we have created an online professional development opportunity titled “Dialogues on Racial Justice,” built around four virtual seminar discussions on profound texts by renowned African-American writers, activists, and artists: “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston; “The Dove” by Romare Bearden; “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes; and “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” by John Lewis. Please view the video introduction to this offering from our director, Dr. Terry Roberts. The course syllabus is below. The course is offered both to groups and to individuals.
Please consider using this resource with your teachers and administrators as a way of growing the skills, confidence, and habits of mind needed to discuss race in America with patience, trust, and honesty. We welcome any additional questions you may have about this offering, including scheduling and pricing.
UPDATE: We were awarded a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program that builds on this course. Read more about the grant and our library of seminar plans for social justice.
DIALOGUES ON RACIAL JUSTICE
This is a nine-session hybrid online course consisting of five asynchronous modules that participants can do on their own schedule, interspersed with four synchronous virtual seminars on four texts having to do with racial awareness and justice. The primary goal is to help participants become aware of their own attitudes toward race and racism, while simultaneously building their skills as participants in candid dialogue. A secondary goal is to provide participants with four model seminars that can be used with colleagues and/or students.
Session One: Asynchronous Module
- An introduction to the entire series along with group and personal participations goals.
- Pre-seminar reading and preparation instructions for the first synchronous seminar.
Session Two: Synchronous Seminar Dialogue
“How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston
Session Three: Asynchronous Module
- Post-Seminar reflection and writing tasks for Hurston Seminar.
- Reflection on personal process goals (from Hurston Seminar) and setting personal goals for second seminar.
- Pre-seminar reading and preparation instructions for the second synchronous seminar.
Session Four: Synchronous Seminar Dialogue
“The Dove” by Romare Bearden
Session Five: Asynchronous Module
- Post-Seminar reflection and writing tasks for Bearden Seminar.
- Reflection on personal process goals (from first two seminars) and setting personal goals for third seminar.
- Pre-seminar reading and preparation instructions for the third synchronous seminar.
Session Six: Synchronous Seminar Dialogue
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
Session Seven: Asynchronous Module
- Post-Seminar reflection and writing tasks for Hughes Seminar.
- Reflection on personal process goals (from first three seminars) and setting personal goals for fourth seminar.
- Pre-seminar reading and preparation instructions for the fourth synchronous seminar.
Session Eight: Synchronous Seminar Dialogue
“Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” by John Lewis
Session Nine: Asynchronous Module
- Post-Seminar reflection and writing tasks for Lewis Seminar.
- Reflection on personal growth as members of a dialogue community.
- Notes on facilitating conversations about race with others.