Make America Dinner Again is a deliberative innovation created by Tria Chang and Justine Lee shortly after the 2016 presidential election. Guests with differing political views are invited to dinner to discuss current issues in an attempt to heal the divides in American society.
Problems and Purpose
Organizers Tria Chang and Justine Lee decided to create Make America Dinner Again (MADA) after the 2016 Presidential Election in the United States of America (U.S.A.). The fierce rivalry between Republican and Democrat supporters has since generated a divide in American society.[1] A poll conducted shortly after the election showed that 77% of Americans viewed their country as divided on important issues.[2] Therefore, in order to address the disconnect within American society, Chang and Lee thought it was necessary to broaden their social sphere and begin setting up dinners where supporters of both Democrats and Republicans could have difficult but necessary conversations about political issues. The aim of this organization is not to change the minds of participants, but to deepen their knowledge about specific issues, which offer the potential to impact the political environment.[3] In speaking directly to MADA, their goal is to impact both the individual and the nation as a whole, as well as continuing this innovation after the presidential term in 2020.
Background History and Context
The first organized dinner occurred in San Francisco, where the organizers Lee and Chang live. The dinner consisted of eight Asian-Americans - half Democrat and half Republican voters.[4] There is no evidence to indicate why only Asian-Americans were chosen for the first dinner; however, this was not continued throughout the project as a majority of the dinners have since been filled by 6-10 guests who vary in terms of their background, nationality, ethnicity and political views.[5] MADA has garnered extensive media attention and had hosted hundreds of events in over twenty cities by 2020.
MADA was established to address a growing divide in society among U.S citizens. The dinners provide a safe space for participants who can deliberate through guided discussion and can begin to understand the people behind their political views. Lee and Chang hoped this would help reform the current trends of informal discussion- online conversations which are typically disrespectful, as people are much more likely to be polite and understanding when they are face-to-face with another person.[6] This is a collective project in which the creators, hosts, and guests all work toward the goal of reunifying society together. As a result, every time a dinner is held, and the participants have a deeper understanding of an issue, the closer the organizers are to reaching their goal. Lee and Chang realized when organizing the first dinner that they didn’t know anyone who supported Trump as their social sphere was made up of people with views similar to their own. They took the initiative to contact and speak with Trump supporters via Facebook as they thought it was important to deliberate with people they would not normally have contact with.[7]
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
As MADA involves guests deliberating over a meal, the hosts are responsible for providing food for up to ten participants. In many cases, guests bring their own dishes with them to share as the dinners can become costly for the hosts.[8] Initially Lee and Chang paid for the first dinner out of their own wages which cost approximately $250. Now, a selection of hosts are reimbursed for the costs of the meal via a ‘GoFundMe’ page, which has raised over $5,600 since September 2017. While the dinners are cost-free for guests, they are encouraged to give a donation in order to fund future dinners.[9]
The MADA innovation has several sponsors, many of whom play and have similar roles and aim. One sponsor, The People's Supper, aims to rebuild “interpersonal relationships across political, ideological and identity differences.” By 2018, over 900 dinners across the U.S were successfully hosted, and they continue to offer tools, resources, and training to those who want to perform this type of work. Similarly, Bridge The Divide is a youth initiative where young people have online discussions about political issues. There is no data which shows the details or the amount of the sponsors' contributions to MADA.
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Anyone can host or attend a dinner. Participants sign up via the MADA website and answer a few basic questions about their political viewpoints. Six to ten participants are chosen at random and must be strangers to one another. Importantly, the dinners aim to have a balance between Democrat and Republican supporters. However, this balance can be difficult to achieve; one host, Emily Nelson, struggled to find participants who identified as Republicans, therefore, they had to contact Republican Facebook groups in order to find guests to attend their dinner.[10]
Methods and Tools Used
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What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
When guests arrive at the dinners, they get a name-tag, present any food they have brought, and are told the rules of the dinner such as safe words.[11] Depending on the host, the participants may be put into pairs as an ‘ice-breaker’ and are encouraged to find the similarities and differences between themselves to discuss with the rest of the group afterwards. When guests begin the meal, the hosts guide the discussion in order to address various topical political issues and maintain an environment of respect and open-mindedness.[12] For instance, just one dinner can cover concerns such as abortion, gun control, immigration, and the Black Lives Matter movement.[13] At one dinner affirmative action was discussed and whether it was still appropriate. This led to a disagreement over the extent of social inequalities within American society.[14] Many hosts encourage everyone at the table to engage in the discussions by using follow-up questions targeted at specific guests.[15] This ensures that only a few individuals cannot dominate the conversation.
The main goal of the discussions is not to try and change people’s minds or prove people wrong, but to be respectful, make others feel safe, and create a deeper understanding of different view-points.[16]
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
The main influence of this innovation is regarding participant mind-sets; many come away hearing a completely new perspective that they may not have heard or considered before.[17] MADA increases participant politicization as it encourages guests to understand issues more deeply and inspires many of them to host future dinners of their own. Some participants realize that their knowledge lacks in some areas and leave wanting to make an effort to further learn about an issue independently.[18] The ice-breakers at the beginning of many of the dinners are extremely important because the socialization can help eliminate the stereotyping of other guests as either Republican or Democrat supporters.[19] Overall, the majority of guests leave the dinners feeling moved and positive about the experience.[20]
J. Mansbridge argues that MADA does have significant effects on wider society, as she claims informal deliberation, or ‘everyday talk’ is the key contribution to the deliberative system. It “stirs the intellectual and emotional pot” and paves the way for formal deliberation and ultimately decision-making by elites.[21]
Analysis and Lessons Learned
MADA is innovative through its gradual and grassroots approach. By working alongside its sponsors, initiatives such as MADA are creating a space for informal deliberation where differences in political opinions can be addressed and discussed.
Creators Lee and Chang have noted that by having such small dinners it does mean that only a limited number of people are affected. In response, MADA turned its attention to universities, and has held workshops and dinners at a number of establishments in order to teach the importance of political deliberation and participation to the younger generation.[22]
The evaluation of MADA by the media and participants is typically positive; both praise the innovation as being a step in the right direction for American politics.[23]
See Also
Beck, G. (2018) ‘Make America Dinner Again’: Can dining bring liberals and conservatives together?. The Blaze. theblaze.com/podcasts/make-america-dinner-again-can-this-simple-act-bring-liberals-conservatives-together (Accessed: 23 November 2018)
Bridge The Divide. bridge-the-divide.com/ (Accessed: 23 November 2018)
Corbley, M. (2018) Instead of Arguing Online, Political Foes Are Coming Together Over Food to ‘Make America Dinner Again’. Good News Network. goodnewsnetwork.org/instead-arguing-online-political-foes-coming-together-food-make-america-dinner/ (Accessed: 24 November 2018)
Kwong, M. (2018) ‘Hummus’: Why strangers invited to a D.C. potluck were given a safe word. CBC. cbc.ca/news/world/make-america-dinner-again-mada-potluck-division-dialogue-1.4864141 (Accessed: 8 November 2018)
Ncdd. (2012) Book Club Week 5: Everyday Talk in the Deliberative System by Jane Mansbridge. ncdd.org/8937 (Accessed: 5 December 2018)
Nevins, C. (2017) It’s Up To Young People To Bridge The Political Divide. The Huffington Post. huffingtonpost.com/entry/its-up-to-young-people-to-bridge-the-political-divide_us_58a899f9e4b026a89a7a2be4?guccounter=1 (Accessed: 6 December 2018)
Niemeyer, S, Dryzek, J. (2007) ‘The Ends of Deliberation: Meta- consensus and Inter-subjective Rationality as Ideal Outcomes’, Swiss Political Science Review, (13) 4, 497-500
Tangney, T, Curley, J. (2018) Liberals and conservatives break bread at Make America Dinner Again. Kiro Radio. mynorthwest.com/1075055/make-america-dinner-again-seattle/ (Accessed: 24 November 2018)
Taylor, B. (2017) At ‘Make America Dinner Again,’ Bridging Political and Racial Divides. KQED. kqed.org/news/11618110/at-make-america-dinner-again-bridging-political-and-racial-divides (Accessed: 23 November 2018)
The Blaze. (2018) Make America Dinner Again. youtube.com/watch?v=uXSAihDolf8 (Accessed: 22 November 2018)
The People’s Supper. thepeoplessupper.org (Accessed: 23 November 2018)
Paul, S. (2017) Political Perspectives Are The Main Course At These Dinner Gatherings. NPR. npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/04/518182530/political-perspectives-are-the-main courseatthesedinnergatherings?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&t=1540388891072 (Accessed: 7 November 2018)
References
[1] Make America Dinner Again. (Accessed: 8 November 2018)
[2]Gershon, L. (2017) Just How Divided Are Americans Since Trump’s Election?. History. history.com/news/just-how-divided-are-americans-since-trumps-election (Accessed: 5 December 2018)
[3] Common Ground Solutions. commongroundforward.org/topic/an-interview-with-justine-lee-and-tria-chang-founders-of-make-america-dinner-again/ (Accessed: 8 November 2018)
[4] BBC. (2018) “Crossing Divides: Can Chinese Americans solve differences over Dinner.” bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-43882331/crossing-divides-can-chinese-americans-solve-differences-over-dinner (Accessed: 22 November 2018)
[5] Make America Dinner Again.
[6] Common Ground Solutions.
[7] Free Think. freethink.com/shows/crossing-the-divide/making-america-dinner-again (Accessed: 7 November 2018)
[8] Clement, B. (2018) With Make America Dinner Again, politics gets a place at the table. The Seattle Times. seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/with-make-america-dinner-again-politics-gets-a-place-at-the-table/ (Accessed: 7 November 2018)
[9] Make America Dinner Again.
[10] Clement, B. (2018) With Make America Dinner Again, politics gets a place at the table.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Lee, J, Chang, T. (2017) Designing Democracy at the Dinner Table. Medium. medium.com/@frogdesign/designing-democracy-at-the-dinner-table-7db12a083782 (Accessed: 8 November 2018)
[13] Clement, B. (2018) With Make America Dinner Again, politics gets a place at the table.
[14] BBC. (2018) “Crossing Divides: Can Chinese Americans solve differences over Dinner.”
[15] Ketner, S. (2018) Dallas Musician Stephen Ketner Says Glenn Beck is a Nice Guy- and He Would Know After Eating Dinner With Him. Dallas Observer. dallasobserver.com/arts/dallas-musician-stephen-ketner-had-dinner-with-glenn-beck-for-make-america-dinner-again-series-10687187 (Accessed: 24 November 2018)
[16] Common Ground Solutions.
[17] Make America Dinner Again.
[18] Ketner, S. (2018) Dallas Musician Stephen Ketner Says Glenn Beck is a Nice Guy- and He Would Know After Eating Dinner With Him.
[19] Free Think.
[20] Make America Dinner Again.
[21] Mansbridge, J. (1999) ‘Everyday Talk in the Deliberative System’ in Macedo, S.(ed) Deliberative Politics: Essays on Democracy and Disagreement. New York: Oxford University Press, 402- 434.
[22] Lee and Chang. (2017) Designing Democracy at the Dinner Table.
[23] Make America Dinner Again.
External Links
Notes
Lead Image: Make America Dinner Again/Facebook https://goo.gl/hiaJbj