Using Poetry to Change Dialogues on Multiculturalism & Social Activism

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2 Using Poetry to Change Dialoges on Mlticltralism & Social Activism

3 Using Poetry to Change Dialoges on Mlticltralism & Social Activism Nathaniel Granger, Jr., PsyD Saybrook University Presentation Otline Lois Hoffman, PhD Saybrook University The Context: Polarized Dialoges Poetry and Individal/Collective Healing Poetry and Cltral Empathy Poetry and Reflection/Self-Awareness Application References

4 The Context: Polarized Dialoges Polarization: the fixation on one point of view to the tter exlcslion of competing points of view... (Schneider, 2013) Cltral dialoges in the United States increasingly polarized and distorted: Example: Distortions of Black Lives Matter Movement and Police violence

5 The Context: Polarized Dialoges Debates often intensify disagreements and increase polarization; a new approach is needed (Hoffman & Granger, 2015; Hoffman, Granger, Vallejos, & Moats, 2016) Allport (1954) proposed that interpersonal interactions nder in the right context wold decrease prejdice Allport s assertion has been widely spported (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006) Hoffman & Granger (2015) propose that poetry and story-telling are likely to also be effective in changing dialoges.

6 The Context: Polarized Dialoges We will discss 3 ways poetry can facilitate change and and healing in the context of social jstice and activism: Poetry and Individal/Collective Healing Poetry and Cltral Empathy Poetry and reflection/self-awareness

7 Poetry and Individal/Collective Healing Poetry is a powerfl, ancient form of healing. Individal Context Writing and reading poetry for personal healing and growth Collective Context Poetry & other arts can help create commnity, even across great distances Example: Poetry and story sharing following Trayvon Martin s death and other tragedies.

8 Poetry and Individal/Collective Healing Facilitating healing can be an important part of activism Activism (inclding sing poetry) can be healing (Hoffman et al, 2016) Often, some healing is necessary to be effective in promoting social jstice and activism (Hoffman et al, 2016) Activism withot healing is more likely to be polarizing

9 Poetry and Cltral Empathy The lack of nderstanding and empathy across cltral grops contribtes to or mlticltral tensions. Poetry can be an important aid in promoting empathy. Encorages a more emotional approach to nderstanding Often tilizes a story-telling approach More disarming that rational, factal, and debate oriented approaches

10 Poetry and Cltral Empathy Poetry in someone else s voice Writing poetry in the voice of someone else can promote empathy by: Shifting from one s own perspective Exploring and describing different aspects of the person s experience Trying to nderstand the person experience and behavior in context

11 Poetry and reflection/ self-awareness Poetry can be a powerfl form of reflection promoting self-awareness Poetry encorages a person to slow down whether writing or reading and reflect Exploring more deeply one s experiences Symbols sed in poetry often emerge from the nconscios; revisiting poetry over-time can helping deepen awareness. Poetry is generally written from an emotional and creative space; retrning to it later can help connect the rational to the emotion for deeper nderstanding

12 Application Applying to Social Jstice and Activism: Need for healing and awareness Promoting change throgh nderstanding and empathy Promoting change throgh passion

13 References Allport, G. W. (1954). The natre of prejdice. Garden City, NY: Dobleday Anchor Books. Hoffman, L., Granger, N. Jr., Vallejos, L., & Moats, M. (2016). An existential-hmanistic perspective on Black Lives Matter and contemporary protest movements. Jornal of Hmanistic Psychology. Advance online pblication. Hoffman, L., & Granger, N. Jr., (2015). Introdction. In L. Hoffman & N. Granger, Jr., (Eds.), Stay awhile: Poetic narratives on mlticltralism and diversity. Colorado Springs, CO: University Professors Press. Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A meta-analytic test of intergrop contact theory. Jornal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, doi: / Schneider, K. J. (2013). The polarized mind: Why it s killing s and what we can do abot it. Colorado Springs, CO: University Professors Press.

14 Presentation Slides will be available at: and