Page 320 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

“I think that the reflections are that I have to be more willing for a conversation and not

like, ‘Oh I know what you are going to say as the white person on the other side so let me

prepare my reaction and my response.’ I need to be more open to that thought myself.”

(P14FAA)

The face-to-face nature of the dialogue allowed participants to hear information that

challenged longstanding beliefs and confront deep-seated issues and emotions in a supportive

environment of people who were interested in hearing the stories of fellow community members.

The stories and experiences shared among participants were revealing and seemed to have a

cathartic quality for some. Participant exchanges ranged from supportive to challenging, as

attentive listening supported painful encounters and confrontation of disdainful attitudes.

Shifting perspectives. A shift in an individual’s perspective can result from personal

reflection about a statement or statements made, exchanged or heard that challenge individual

beliefs. While it takes probably more than dialogues to sway participants to the extent that they

change many of their long held perspectives, a shift may be the product of personal reflection or

an influencer that causes contemplation or further consideration. Reflections allowed dialogue

attendees to re-play the exchange of opinions and the emotions felt and witnessed. The action of

personal reflection challenged participants of civic and deliberative dialogue to consider seriously

how their own views and beliefs align with or differ from the perspectives of those who have a

different race and ethnicity (Schoem et al., 2001). A change or shift in perspective is what is

important, no matter the depth or extent. Participants shared with me:

“I think that the reflections are that I have to be more willing for a conversation and not

like, ‘Oh I know what you are going to say, is the white person on the other side so let me

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