It's a struggle but worth it: Identifying and managing identities in an interracial friendship

Informing Culturally Competent Practice Through Cross-Racial Friendships

“…Weinstock and Bond noted that, far from taking a simplistic 'agree to disagree' stance vis a vis conflict, friends who operated on this highest level demonstrated "a recognition and valuation of learning about the issue, the self, the friend and the relationship through conflicts with friends" (p. 693). Diggs and Clark (2002), in a qualitative study of their own cross-racial friendship, described such a process of engagement that takes place over many years. Using an auto ethnographic approach, the authors analyzed their written correspondence and reflections related to issues in their relationship that arose around race.…”

“…Additionally, when individuals of different racial backgrounds share similar commitments to their friendship, meaningful dialogue is possible. Diggs and Clark (2002) suggested that dialogue that occurs over a period of time may be necessary when friends are involved in challenging interracial discourse. Such dialogue in a platonic relationship is likely to result in understanding across races and can result in increased cross-cultural competence.…”

“…The authors repeatedly returned to specific incidents and their initial and later reflections of these to describe in detail their evolving understanding of themselves, each other, race, racism and friendship. Weinstock and Bond's (2000) study implies that empathy and working toward a phenomenological perspective is essential at the highest level of concepts of conflict, while Diggs and Clark (2002) illuminated what is required of cross-racial friends who are committed to such conversations. Both articles present findings that are relevant for counsellors and counsellor educators alike.…”

“…Cross-racial friendships may also serve to increase counsellors' multicultural competence. Friendships between persons of different racial backgrounds are, however, challenged and complicated by issues of power, privilege and racism (Diggs and Clark 2002;Dovidio et al 2002;Scott 2004). The American Counseling Association's Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD 1992) in their Cross-cultural competencies and objectives describe culturally skilled counsellors as those who develop meaningful relationships, including friendship with minorities "so that their perspectives of minorities is more than an academic or helping exercise" (p. 3).…”

Speaking into Silences: Autoethnography, Communication, and Applied Research

“…In this subset, the locus of study ranged from the author's own embodied experience (Fox, 2007), to close relationships (Diggs & Clark, 2002), to academic life (see, e.g., Pelias, 2000), to spirituality (see, e.g., Russell, 2004), to community engagement (see, e.g., Olson, 2004). A single communication journal, Text and Performance Quarterly, published seven of the 20.…”