A grassroots antiracist program: The motivation and perceived growth of participants in a community‐based, intergroup dialogue program

In the United States, racial segregation still organizes the social lives of most people. This segregation of social life continues reinforcing attitudes and behaviors that sustain racial injustice in the United States. Given the longstanding structural forces sustaining the segregated status quo, w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of community psychology 2023-09, Vol.72 (1-2), p.75-88
Main Authors: Marcucci, Olivia, Roberston, Tiffany, Morgan, Donald, Lazarus, Elizabeth, Mitchell, Lisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antiracism
Attitude change
Classification
Community
community‐based intervention
intergroup dialogue
Racial justice
Racial segregation
racism
Segregation
Social attitudes
Social life & customs
Social networks
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Summary:In the United States, racial segregation still organizes the social lives of most people. This segregation of social life continues reinforcing attitudes and behaviors that sustain racial injustice in the United States. Given the longstanding structural forces sustaining the segregated status quo, why do certain individuals seek out opportunities for ‘intentional integration’? And what happens when they do? This qualitative study interviewed racially diverse participants in a community‐developed, sustained, and strategic intergroup dialogue program called Touchy Topics Tuesday (TTT), located in St. Louis, Missouri. Overall, participants (N = 30) described three interwoven motivations for involvement in the program–a catalytic moment, a long‐term commitment mindset, and/or the influence of their social network. Of all these, participants' social network was the predominant motivating force for individuals across racial lines. Participants also reported three main categories of outcomes: intellectual growth, emotional growth, and relational growth. Each of these categories encompass both attitudinal and behavioral changes. The article interrogates these major findings in the context of the intergroup dialogue literature and studies of attitude change and psychotherapy. Highlights Intergroup dialogue programs have rarely been studied in grassroots, community‐based settings. We investigate participants' motivations and outcomes of one grassroots, antiracist dialogue group. Participants report three motivators: a catalytic moment, a long‐term mindset, and social network. Of all these, participants' social network was the predominant motivator across racial lines. Participants report three interdependent outcomes: intellectual, emotional, and relational growth.
ISSN:0091-0562
1573-2770
DOI:10.1002/ajcp.12682