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Co-convener
Los Angeles Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas (front) and former New
Jersey Senator Bill Bradley (retired) held a press conference at
The Getty Center to officially launch the national effort. Dialogue
sessions with more than 40 local and national leaders were held
after the press conference. |
Introduction
National Days of Dialogue
on Race Relations took place in at least 60 cities around the country
January 14 - 19, 1998, in recognition of the King Holiday. Councilman
Mark Ridley-Thomas held a press conference at The Getty Center to officially
launch the national effort. Dialogue sessions with more than 40 local
and national leaders were held after the press conference.
Background and Overview
The 10 groups that came together in the fall of 1997 to organize National
Days of Dialogue on Race Relations (NDOD) were a unique mixture of organizations.
About half of them are well known organizations that have a long history
of being active on civil rights issues. The other half are ones that
have expertise in dialogue and conflict resolution. Their purpose was
to create a major, nationwide event that would call attention to the
importance of interracial dialogue and that would involve citizens in
conversations about how to improve race relations in their area.
The original idea grew out of the successful
Days of Dialogue that emerged in Los Angeles after the O.J. Simpson
trial in 1995. Leaders of that effort began conversations with representatives
of some other organizations, and by April 1997, the planning for a nationwide
event was underway. This fledgling effort was reinforced and further
motivated in June 1997 when President Clinton called on the American
People to engage in "an unprecedented converstation on race relations"
and announced specific plans for his own Initiative on Race.
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LAUSD
Board Member David Tokofsky, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald
and L.A. City Attorney James Hahn discuss the diversity issues each
face in carrying out their responsibilities as elected officials |
National Days of Dialogue on Race Relations
The dialogues that took place during the National Days of Dialogue on
Race Relations, January 14 - 19, 1998, met and exceeded the goals of
the organizers. It is estimated that more than 10,000 people engaged
in the 750 - 1000 dialogues that took place in at least 60 cities across
the country. Some who did not hear about the program until the last
minute scheduled additional dialogues that took place in at least six
other cities between February 1 and March 15, 1998.
These dialogues brought together concerned
citizens and community leaders from many different backgrounds, cultures,
occupations and points of view. Most participants were average citizens,
but more than a dozen Members of Congress and scores of local government
officials also joined in. In most communities, the larger-than-expected
attendance confirmed the organizers' belief that many citizens are eager
to imrove race relations in their communities.
The size and breadth of participation in
National Days of Dialogue on Race Relations was impressive, but these
numbers tell only part of the story. Participants commented on the tremendous
spirit that was present in their local programs and the great sense
of hope they felt after attending the dialogue. Participants gained
new energy and momentum from their Days of Dialogue activities.
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Harvard
University Professor and author of Race Matters, Cornel West, (center)
listens intently to dialogue comments with David Louie, Los Angeles
Chinatown Economic Developmnt Council (left), and James Slaughter,
president, Occidental College (right). |
Results
Feedback indicates that the dialogue model worked quite well. The majority
of dialogue participants had a very positive experience and felt that
vast majority of facilitators did a great job. Participants gave their
highest scores to the overall climate that was maintained by the facilitators.
Facilitators pointed to things like "the honest sharing of the
participants," "people talking about deep feelings in a racially
mixed group" and "equal participation by all."
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