Narratives of Embodied Knowledge: Toward Reciprocal Participation in Public Dialogue

Public dialogue forums convene community members to discuss the impact and possibilities of topics of civic importance. Their credibility often depends on the participation of historically underrepresented groups whose lived experiences are central to the issues discussed. Using the lens of embodied knowledge, an informant narrates his experience with public dialogues on policing. The narratives demonstrate forums served as constitutive of 1) paradox, 2) reciprocity, 3) contestation of hegemonic “common sense,” and 4) connection to an influential community position on the police hiring committee. The findings advance concepts toward an ethically responsible framework of reciprocal participation in public dialogue.