I've finally read up through ch 2 of the CC text, and I like what I've read. I feel the desire just to keep reading all the way through the book, so I have the full picture before we engage each other and our colleagues in courageous conversations about race. I'm not sure I can take the time away from other tasks the next week or two to do so, but we'll see. Christine, do you think our work at the retreat and over the course of the term would be much enhanced if more of us subcommittee members had read the full book before our retreat? While we might not get it read, knowing that you think it would make a big difference for our work together might help me/us to prioritize it.
A couple comments on what I've read so far: I particularly like the embodiment of both reflection and action (i.e., what Freire calls praxis) in the definition of courageous conversations (p. 16) and in the three critical factors for it (i.e. passion, practice, and persistence). I also think the first condition of CCs, that we "establish a racial context that is personal, local, and immediate," is challenging but crucial for the process to become something more than just going through the motions during a retreat or faculty meeting exercise.
I'll email Guy to get together to plan what to do at the retreat besides part II of the film "Race: Power of an Illusion." I've contacted Milner about getting access to the DVD version for the day. If any of the rest of you have input for Guy and me, or want to meet with us to prepare for the retreat, let us know.
Lucille
