International Journal of Intercultural Relations

26 (2002) 109–117

Book reviews

Interracial communication: theory into practice

Mark P. Orbe, Tina M. Harris; Wadsworth Thomson Learning, Belmont, CA, 2001

When the point is reached that both parties can communicate across difference,then their options and possibilities for increasing the depth and meaningfulness oftheir relationships becomes a true potential. They may now agree or disagree, findpleasure or displeasure, love or hate for reasons other than race of the specialdifferences that initially inhibited interracial communication (Blubaugh &Pennington, 1976, p. 18) in Orbe & Harris, 2001, p. 121.

Interracial Communication by Mark P. Orbe and Tina M. Harris more than meetswhatever unconscious expectations I held before I began reading it. The bookchallenges us to think and to reflect on any preconceived notions we might haveabout communicating with othersFinterracially or intraracially. This fulfills one oftheir stated objectives which was to write a textbook ‘‘that promotes moving fromthe theoretical to the practical’’ (p. xii). The authors also indicated that they wanted‘‘to create a book that is ‘user friendly’ to educators who bring a diverse set ofexperiences to teaching interracial communication.’’Both authors have an interesting mix of ethnic, geographic, class, and other

experiences that provides them with the potential for the dual views of insider andoutsider. Orbe describes himself as a mix of Filipino, Spanish, French, English, andSwiss, along with a few other ethnicities that played less of a role in his family’shistory. His early life was spent in low-income, predominantly African Americancommunities. Harris describes herself as an African American who, while born in theUnited States, received her early and lasting ethnic learning from the family’sSpanish maid during their seven-year military stay in Spain. She has continued tofind herself confronting important challenges such as being charged with ‘‘not beingBlack enough’’ because she spoke ‘‘proper’’ English.From the beginning, Orbe and Harris craft a book that, sometimes gently and

sometimes vigorously, leads readers to confront their own myths and truths as wellas those that are generally accepted by the public. As an example, in Chapter 2 theyreview historical information which shows that race, as we construe it today, did notexist in the ancient world. Rather, Johann Friedrich Blumenbach codified it in thelate 18th century. Francois Bernier first developed a racial categorization schemathat separated people based on skin color and facial features, resulting in four‘‘racial’’ groupsFEuropeans, Africans, Orientals, and Lapps (people from northernScandinavia). Blumenbach took that theory one step further, dividing the ‘‘races’’

into five groupsFCaucasians being superior. Even the term Caucasian has nothingto do with race but rather the geographic location, the Caucasus Mountains, wherethose ‘‘superior’’ beings lived.In addition to history and theory, the authors use boxed text that is variously

labeled Personal Reflections, Case Studies, and Tips, to provide points ofinformation and reflection for a more personal understanding and application ofthe theories being discussed. The book goes beyond what is promised in its title ofInterracial Communication to examine a multiplicity of cultural arenas including age,abilities, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.This book makes us think in multiple ways. Sometimes the authors direct

usFthere are thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter to help the readerconnect theory and practice or at least to gain further insight into the theory and itsimpacts. At other times the challenge is impliedFthere are suggestions for personalreflection accompanied by a few debriefing questions throughout. The outcome forthe reader who is willing to brave the issues that will undoubtedly surface is to berewarded with a greater understanding of self and others and to move toward moreeffective inter and intraracial communication.By its structureFinformation followed by assignments and questions designated as

‘‘Opportunities for Extended Learning’’Fthis book seems most appropriate foracademia. But the reader does not have to be involved in a class to benefit from itslessons. If people would commit themselves to using the methods suggested in thisbook, there is little doubt that many of our strongest disagreements and our unwarran-ted shame, as it relates to those ethnically different from us, would greatly diminish.The book is divided into two sections. The first part, Chapters 1–6, provides a

foundation for studying interracial communication. The chapters overview thehistory of race, the impact of language, multicultural identity, racial identity andfinally, a theoretical overview of approaches to studying communication. In thisoverview, Orbe and Harris provide concise summaries of relevant communicationtheories as they apply to interracial communication, drawing on the research andscholarship of a wide range of experts. As they suggest in the title of this text, theyintentionally emphasize theory into practice. Further, the authors stress that boththe conscious and unconscious issues must be addressed to create meaningfulinterracial communication.The second part, Chapters 7–12, applies the conceptual material from Part One to

illustrate how interracial communication operates in a variety of social contexts.They move systematically from theory to application, debunking the idea thattheories have no practical value for operating in ‘‘everyday life experiences.’’Orbe and Harris offer the metaphor of different lenses that help us see our world

more clearly as a means of understanding the usefulness of theories. If you have everhad a comprehensive eye examination, you know that the doctor changes lenses andasks you to report whether the lens makes your vision more clear or less clear. Theidea is to continue trying different combinations of lenses (theories) until 20/20 visionis achieved. This metaphor suggests that authentic interracial communication allowsus to experience and express the joys and disappointments, the challenges andrewards, that are the result of efforts to be open with each other.

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The authors then go on to examine interracial communication in a variety ofcontexts: friendships, romantic relationships, within organizations, small groups,and the mass media. While efforts to develop genuine communication in all of thesearenas are crucial, mass media stands above the rest because of its ability to impactour view of others so consistently, subtly, and completely. Orbe and Harris note thatresearch clearly demonstrates that racial/ethnic media images work to reinforcesocietal stereotypes of others. The authors refer to Kellner who suggests that massmedia images are a central beginning in how ‘‘many people construct their sense of‘us’ and ‘them’’’ (p. 256).The concluding chapter is filled with approaches for achieving effective interracial

communication. For example, one strategy is to identify potential barriers byexamining ethnocentrism, prejudice, racist attitudes, stereotypes, and uncertaintiesthat create such obstacles. Orbe and Harris suggest that there is no one methodologythat is most productive in fostering positive interracial communication. But on oneissue they are certain: this work cannot be done alone by those who have beenoppressed historically. The authors underscore McIntosh’s assertion that EuropeanAmericans must join in the fight against racist ideologies imbedded in the psyche ofWestern culture. In support of this, they aptly quote Crenshaw who notes:‘‘Whiteness functions ideologically when people employ it consciously or uncon-sciously, as a framework to categorize people and understand their social locations.Within this framework, whiteness as a social position has value and has been treatedlegally as property’’ (p. 272). Orbe and Harris go on to say that ‘‘Therefore, thosewho are not privileged have been oppressed in a society that places more value onskin color than character’’ (p. 272).The authors conclude by saying, ‘‘It is our hope that this text has challenged you

to think critically about interracial communication and your place on the ‘‘racism–antiracism continuum’’ because ‘‘most people are either not challenged to thinkabout race (European Americans) or are forced to think about it continually(microcultural racial/ethnic groups)’’ (p. 280). Put another way, for positiveinterracial communication to take place, the parties involved must be challengedto understand the difference between intent and impact. Those in power want othersto praise them for their intent to do something, while history has taught those not inpower to place more reliance on impact, on what one actually does.It is the hope of this reviewer that this book will, in fact, encourage others to make

a commitment to the challenging work necessary to achieve the benefits of effectiveinterracial relationships, knowing that there can be little joy without some pain. I,too, place more emphasis on the impact while being willing to partner with others toinsure that their positive intent is turned into reality.

Andy ReynoldsExecutive Diversity Services, Inc.,Suite 305, 675 South Lane St.,Seattle, WA 98104-2942, USA

PII: S 0 1 4 7 - 1 7 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 4 0 - 2 E-mail address: execdir@ricochet.net

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