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"We *Really* Need to Talk: Encouraging and Empowering Interracial Dialogue"
Accompanying the revived public debate surrounding the question of racial bias in the United States is a growing racial divide concerning the nature of the problem. For those who seek to bridge this divide, interracial contact and dialogue has the potential to foster the exchange of ideas and perspectives that lead to productive and sustainable solutions. However, these opportunities are often avoided because people anticipate negative affective and interpersonal consequences. In this talk I discuss the social psychological literature exploring these challenges in two domains – bias confrontation and interracial dialogue – and describe research exploring strategies to encourage and empower those who might ordinarily avoid interracial contact that could lead to productive dialogue.