Download or read book A Threatening Opportunity written by Kiara Lynn Sanchez and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Similarities are foundational to building and maintaining friendships, but for cross-race friends, differences in experiences related to race are also inevitable. I theorize that conversations about race-related experiences are a threatening opportunity. In Part I, Black and White friends expected that these conversations can enhance closeness and intergroup learning, but these benefits can be accompanied by identity threat. In Chapter 2, Black and White adults anticipated both benefits and risks of such conversations, though more benefits than risks. In Chapter 3, Black participants reported less willingness to disclose race-related experiences to extant White friends than Black friends and anticipated feeling less comfortable doing so, controlling for closeness. However, they also desired to be understood by Black and White friends equally. In Chapter 4, White participants also felt less comfortable when an imagined Black friend disclosed race-related versus nonrace-related experiences to them. However, they expected to feel closer to their friend after the race-related disclosure. Part II examines real-time video conversations between existing Black and White friends and reframes conversations about race to address friends' identity-based concerns. Findings revealed that Black and White friends are relatively well-positioned to discuss race-related experiences, and the framing had long-term benefits for Black friends' relationship quality, authenticity, and comfort talking about race. Taken together, this dissertation highlights the benefits as well as the risks of conversations about race for cross-race friends and begins to uncover strategies to help friends engage in these conversations productively.