Our Hidden Conversations - Chapter 9: "The Patterns Themselves Tell a Story"
We’re about two-thirds of the way through our fall series with Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris, making this week’s chapter a fitting reflection point. Each chapter reveals recurring themes, or patterns, about race and identity, offering us a chance to contemplate what these patterns mean for us personally and collectively.
This Week’s Discussion: Chapter 9 - "The Patterns Themselves Tell a Story"
As Michael Shermer says, “Humans are pattern-seeking animals.” In this chapter, Norris explores how patterns—whether in behavior, narrative, or societal structure—tell stories of their own, helping us recognize how repeated themes shape public perception and individual identity. Join us as we consider how the stories we tell about the stories we tell are as important as the stories themselves.
Date: Wednesday, November 6
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom - https://sl.richmond.edu/vK (Zoom login required.)
Reflection Questions and Discussion Points:
- One goal of autoethnographic research like The Race Card Project is to identify emergent patterns. What are some of the patterns Norris points out in this chapter, and how do they build or shape the narrative of race and identity in America?
- What patterns have emerged—for you—throughout the book, and what do you believe they imply or mean? How do they influence the way you interact with and perceive others?
- How does the notion of “pattern emergence” in this book reflect larger cultural and political implications, such as in the context of the election? How might these patterns influence public discourse or policy regarding race?
For more information on Intersections or this discussion series, please email Dr. Keith W. McIntosh at cio@richmond.edu.