Getting Started with Cards On Race

Cards On Race provides a framework for people to reflect on or discuss how race influences their lives and communities.  The deck is dynamic enough to meet people where they are on their journey with examining race. Cards On Race allows for a wide range of entry points to begin a reflection process.  In a sense, Cards On Race is a collection of lenses through which we can explore and understand notions related to race in ourselves and others. 

How should I use Cards On Race?

With over 300 cards, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the number of activity choices. So, where should we begin?

The short answer to both questions is that it depends on your context. This blog post, and posts to come, will dive more deeply into scope and sequence options. However, an excellent place to begin is with the underlying premise illustrated in the framework below.  The basic framework we would like you to understand and engage with on your journey is that topics related to race lead to emotional responses (feelings), which we then deal with by using a racial coping strategy. In a sense, it’s ACTION - REACTION - REACTION TO THE REACTION.

We want people to understand that topics related to race lead to emotional responses, which we then deal with by using a racial coping strategy. This framework is the basic structure of how our thoughts, reflections, and discussions should be organized while using Cards On Race. Understanding how racial encounters influence our feelings and how our feelings influence how we respond to those racial encounters is the foundational goal of Cards on Race. Unpacking the relationships between topics, emotions, and racial coping strategies unlocks the door to managing racial stress, building racial empathy, and breaking down interpersonal barriers.