Black and White Styles in Conflict

Neat, clean copy . A few marginal notes or lines drawn by previous reader(s) on several pages, as suggested when it was offered. But otherwise like new. I read and admired this book when it first appeared and somehow lost or loaned that copy; and since then I've become a friend of the author, Delighted now to have such a clean copy of this classic from 40 years ago.

I read Kochman's book back in the late 90s.I think he did a pretty decent job, but the book should ONLY be used as an "exploratory text."He compared the communication styles of "Whites" with what he calls "community Blacks."Upon reading the book, I found out that "community Blacks" are actually poor Blacks....and the Whites...are members of the White middle class.If he had included the communications styles of poor Whites (are not passive communicators...some may be, but most are not)and middle class Blacks, the book would have been much, much richer and sophisticated. (and even better if the styles of Asian-/Latino-/ and "Native"-American groups were included.)That's the problem when Blacks and Whites and other groups are compared. Researchers, journalists, etc., often use the umbrella terms "Black, White, Asian, etc.," which project the idea that "all members of this group are the same"...no matter their educational achievement, economic status, geographical location, etc. That is very wrong.Although Kochman provided a lot of good information, the book simply reinforces the "racial" dichotomy: White and Black, good and bad, rich and poor, etc.The data about "how different cultural (not "racial") groups interpret information at public meetings was very informative, as well as differences in the coaching styles of Black and White coaches. I was able to immediately see what he was writing about when White fans at the University of KY would criticize Coach Tubby Smith's methods, etc.Very well done.The information about "how middle class Whites tend to wrongly believe that --when a discussion between Blacks and Whites becomes heated...violence will be next".... was right on the money.As long as people are talking, violence is most likely not to occur.However, when people STOP talking...that's when violence may occur. Hence, it's not the angry words you have to be aware of...but instead "quietness and silence."Good job, Mr. Kochman!!!I noticed that some of the other people who left comments specifically referred to "Black culture."Black culture is just as much about "community Blacks" as it is about middle- and upper-class Blacks...groups who are FREQUENTLY EXCLUDED when "race" and culture are written about by the overwhelming majority of White researchers, journalists, historians, etc.When the "Blacks are poor" and "all Whites are middle class" approach is utilized, it appears the only thing being done is to ILLUMINATE differences among the two groups and ignoring commonalities.Much better research methods and variables need to be implemented, which is the subject of a book titled, "White Logic, White Methods: Racism and Methodology," edited by Tukufu Zubieri and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (2008).

This book is not *just* about white versus black. I wish I had come across it much sooner; this book explains interactions that puzzled me exceedingly for years. This book is all about what happens when two almost diametrically opposed but internally consistent cultural paradigms meet, and what each side of the equation may not realize about the other.These systemic conflicts would probably occur regardless of racism, but racism and its history absolutely exacerbates these conflicts and stands in the way of compassion. Understanding the thinking process behind the conflict will hopefully help us to figure out how to approach the cultural divide which is so unequal. Best intentions don’t always work out — here you may find some reasons why.

As a white woman from a small town who's madly in love with a black man from a big city, this book really helped articulate some of the communication differences that have plauged us. I strongly believe that perception is a person's reality; however, those perceptions can be changed if one becomes aware of the origin of those perceptions. The only negative to this book is that it comes off as "textbook" at times. I especially recommend this book to caucasions who have never been immersed in black culture.

Informative.

Very informative and a great read.

Interesting read...albeit not QUITE as all-encompassing as it COULD be. Nonetheless, a good book.

Excellent!