"Our country is experiencing the most divisive time in recent history — but the holidays are upon us," Desi Lydic said on The Daily Show's year-end special. "I want to find out what families are doing to stay connected this season." Her attempts to reconcile politically and culturally fractured families by talking to people in midtown Manhattan ended with advice about self-medicating and avoiding racist relatives entirely, so she turned to Dr. David Campt, racial dialogue expert and founder of the White Ally Toolkit, a roving workshop "where woke white liberals learn to effectively communicate with the not-so-woke," Lydic explained. "David's basically the White People Whisperer."
Lydic helpfully played the fool to show everyone what not to do, then tried out Campt's techniques for connecting with and hopefully converting racist relatives on a family in New Jersey. "The Cofranciso family had a history of dinners gone bad, so they were more than willing to let any random strangers with cameras come in to their home if it meant their holidays could be more pleasant," she said. You can watch her uphill struggle with the Confranciscos, and maybe learn a few real world tips, below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The best new music of 2024 by genreThe Week Recommends Outstanding albums, from pop to electro and classical
-
Nine best TV shows of 2024 to binge this ChristmasThe Week Recommends From Baby Reindeer and Slow Horses to Rivals and Shogun, here are the critics' favourites
-
Crossword: December 28, 2024The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
