The First Step In Becoming Racially Literate | Dr. Howard C. Stevenson

Sidewalk Talk

With racism embedded throughout American history, policy, and systems- how do we connect and get started on the conversations that can bring us all closer?

In this episode of the Sidewalk Talk podcast, I sat down with Dr. Howard C. Stevenson, renowned psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who is shining a guiding light on the importance of racial literacy. Dr. Stevenson and his brother, Bryan Stevenson have ignited some of the most desperately needed conversations on race in America. Join us as he shares why acknowledging the narratives of others and taking steps toward combating hate start with falling deep in love with your own narratives.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:07] Intro
• [00:57] Meet Dr. Howard C. Stevenson
• [02:39] How he got to where he is today
• [06:39] What's changed
• [07:05] Changes in race politics & his mission
• [10:47] Dehumanization and a shift in the moral code
• [12:38] Using history and culture to counter hateful narratives
• [15:48] Supporting other narratives through listening
• [17:42] Calculating, locating and communicating as you listen
• [20:51] Knowing your own story
• [22:59] Therapy across cultures
• [24:15] Racial literacy's impact on power dynamics
• [28:40] What is a story?
• [31:51] Dr. Stevenson’s wishes for you
• [33:41] Outro

Resources Mentioned:

• Howard C. Stevenson TED Talk
• The Racial Empowerment Collaborative
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Standout Quotes:

• “If you share a story with me, you're inviting me into your life. Even if I could be an enemy in your story...it is human in its core that you're gonna be vulnerable, then expect me to also be vulnerable. So I would argue that it's spiritual as much as it is strategic to share and know your own story. It's an act of humanity in and of itself. And then I think we can define you know, what's, what's possible between us.” - Dr. Stevenson [22:20]
• “In our work, our job is to help you fall in love with your own story. That means we also have to appreciate our own.” - Dr. Stevenson [26:54]
• “We always used to say, it takes a village to raise a child to help the child. But we've been saying, even if that's the case, what does it take to raise a healthy village? - Dr. Stevenson [14:05]
• “There is in our work a certain humbling, I would argue- holy ground- where people are sharing with us the most intimate things in their lives. But it could be, without humanity, it could be voyeurism, right? We could be simply watching other people struggle or grow or whatever. And that's a particular space of power. And I would argue that it's hard to talk about humanity, you have to be human and some respects that means sharing.” - Dr. Stevenson [20:59]

Connect:

Find | Sidewalk Talk

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Find | Traci Ruble

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On Instagram: @TraciRubleMFT

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On Facebook: @TraciRubleMFT

Find | Dr. Howard C. Stevenson

At recastingrace.com

On Instagram: @hcstevensonjr

On Twitter: @DrHoward_RECAST

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