A Dialectic Analysis of a Community Forum on Faith: The “Most Segregated” or Separated Hour?

Abstract

Homogeneity remains the norm in churches despite the ideal of diversity called for by leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. This incongruity prompted an analysis of a community forum convened to address racial tensions growing from a school board conflict in Little Rock, Arkansas. The phrase, “the most segregated hour in America is 11:00 A.M. on Sunday,” surfaces multiple times in relation to the homogeneity–diversity dialectic. This tension-centered analysis revealed varied functions of irony as forum participants responded to this dialectic. Major findings included (1) countering the assumption that segregation is wrong through alternation; (2) framing through transcendence based in dramatic irony; (3) relying on a personal narrative based on selection; (4) contesting the role of significant choice based in event-based irony; and (5) representing the marginalized discourse of diversity as mystery. We extend tension-centered research and theory by explicating the role of irony in opening spaces within contested discourse. Practitioners can utilize openings created by irony through enriched dialogue about identity and transcendent rituals.

Keywords:

• Dialectic
• Segregation
• Integration
• Irony
• Diversity
• Homogeneity

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ray Williams of the Nehemiah Network, Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li of the Mosiac Church, and Mayo Johnson of the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission for their vision and partnership on this forum.