Dismantling Racism One on One: Uniqueness Narrative Equity (Unabridged‪)‬

Three true stories of interracial conflict show how interpersonal racism can be dismantled when conversational partners co-construct uniquenesses, a powerful process everyone can do.


For example:

1) A stressful conversation between Isabel and the plumber was transformed from racist abuse to “momentarily family.”

2) Ronald and Jennifer progressed from “violent Black rapist” and “lying white bitch” to friends, co-authors, and collaborating social justice advocates.

3) After Robin owned up to her white privilege, Angela comfortably connected with her as a colleague.

Dismantling Racism One on One provides a mental model and three ways of listening and speaking that can empower listeners to reverse toxic stereotyping.


Stories of real conversations illustrate the anti-racist power of specific ways of listening and speaking that we can all practice. Since each of us is unique, we can harness our uniqueness to combat the racism we experience in one-on-one situations.


The first step is to understand productive ways to think about dismantling interpersonal racism by storifying, listening dialogically, practicing cultural humility, and being genuinely curious. The second is to mobilize appropriate reflections, choices, and emotions. This how-to guide is proven and powerful, and the overall process is simple: It’s the opposite of social stereotyping.

About the Author:

John Stewart edited 11 editions of Bridges Not Walls: A Book About Interpersonal Communication, and authored U and Me: Communicating in Moments That Matter, and Personal Communicating and Racial Equity. His research, teaching, and writing at the University of Washington spanned 32 years, and he served the final decade of his career as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Dubuque. Now retired, he writes and offers Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Belonging training.