Read books, articles and blogs written by people of different races and ethnicities, including fictional stories. Additionally, watch movies and documentaries. In addition to reading and watching films about other cultures, you might attend cultural events that are open to the public, like a Chinese Lunar New Year Festival or an Indian Festival. Read the news, and not just from a single source. Absorb as many perspectives as possible. Carefully consider the bias behind each source.
For example, you might hear things like, “I don’t shop at that store anymore because a clerk always follows me around just because I’m Black,” “My supervisor only promotes White people, and it’s not fair,” or “I’m tired of people accusing me of being aggressive because of the way I speak. This is my normal voice. " If you’re not an ethnic minority, don’t dismiss their experiences or talk about an experience you had that you think is similar. You might be tempted to say things like, “Are you sure it was because you’re Black?” or “I’ve never had a problem there. ” Never say anything like that. Those sentences are harmful to the other person and shut down the dialogue. Just listen and try to understand.
For example, you may be stopped by the police less often in some areas if you have a light complexion. This is privilege. Learn about privilege so you can better understand how you may benefit from it.
For example, you may notice that you feel afraid when you’re around people of a certain race. Once you recognize this bias, you can work to overcome it. You can find a quiz to help you identify your biases here: https://www. tolerance. org/professional-development/test-yourself-for-hidden-bias
As an example, you might hear someone say, “I don’t see color. ” Not only is this impractical, they’re ignoring the fact that racist issues continue to happen around them.
Let’s say you hear someone say, “There goes the neighborhood,” when they see a Hispanic family moving in across the street. You might say, “What do you mean by that?” After they try to explain what they said, you might say, “Why are you making assumptions about that family?” This forces them to explain their inappropriate comments and allows you to present a different side. You might say, “I’m excited to have new neighbors and want to get to know them. Will you join me in welcoming them?” Stand in front of a mirror or film yourself while you’re practicing. If you can, try role-playing with a trusted ally. This way you can both practice being a voice against racism.
For instance, let’s say your uncle makes a lot of racist jokes. Try to focus on getting him to stop making the jokes rather than trying to expose him as a racist. You could say, “I know you’re trying to be funny, but these jokes are really outdated and offensive. " Similarly, let’s say you work at a company that tends to hire only White people. Promote the importance of diversity in the workforce and push upper management to change their hiring practices. Say something like, “I’ve noticed we have a lot of similar perspectives at the top, but studies show that a diverse team comes up with better, more innovative ideas. I’m sure if we hired more candidates who represent different parts of the market, we’d be able to grow the business. "
You might say, “What do you mean by that?” “Can you explain that joke?” or “Why do you think it’s okay to say these types of things?”
Standing beside or in front of the person who is the target may help de-escalate some situations and shows the person they have an ally. Be careful if you think you might get hurt. You might call the police if you witness someone threaten a person or act violently. If you see a police officer behaving violently, you might try recording the incident.
If you can’t take videos, take photos or record audio instead. At the very least, pay close attention. A solid eyewitness account is better than nothing. Show your evidence to friends and people in power. If you think it’s appropriate, post your experiences on social media.
You might take a deep breath or count to 10 before responding so you can control your emotions. Consider that anger often arises in response to anger. Ask yourself whether, by reacting angrily, you will actually solve the problem – or only feed the cycle of anger.
At school, you might talk to a teacher, counselor, or principal. At work, you may consult your supervisor, human resources manager, or the company owner. Say something like, “I’ve witnessed Mike telling racist jokes on at least 5 occasions. It’s creating a hostile working environment with our team, but he refuses to stop. ” You might also show them a record you kept of what Mike said, when, and where.
For example, you might share informational videos about how the practice of redlining prevented investments in predominantly Black communities. Similarly, you could share content about past injustices against ethnic minorities and how those events still affect society today.
For example, you might share articles and videos about Mexican, Central American, and South American immigrants detained at the border and held in make-shift jails. You might say to friends and family, “I’m concerned about how these immigrants are being treated. Their human rights are being violated. "
Look for lists of Black-owned businesses in your area. Let your money speak for you. Don’t buy from businesses who don’t support equality and diversity.
Take a class, join a club, or go to local events to meet new people. Attend cultural events in your area that are open to the public.
You can find options for volunteering online here: https://www. onlinevolunteering. org/en
