ABSTRACT
Context talk is essentially any conversation or dialogue that involves talking about any dimension of diversity. Whether focused on religion, sexual orientation, class, race, or any of the hosts of other potential dimensions, context talk is always a daunting task. Earnest attempts to have fully engaged conversations are often fraught with conflict escalation, verbal withdrawal, emotional cutoff, or diversion and distraction. The former refers to having the tenacity and fortitude to stay in the conversation even when it is potentially conflictual, stagnant, or sluggish. Skill, on the other hand, refers to possessing the mastery to implement tactics and strategies that facilitate effective engagement and conversation. Skill also involves having a critical understanding of the importance of timing, especially regarding when the use of a given tactic is indicated or contraindicated as dictated by circumstances. There are two interrelated skill sets that are essential to mastering context talk: generic and specialized.
