How to Become Proactive Against Racists and Racism

Many people want to become more proactive against racism and racist people. The truth is that racism is deeply entrenched in society and it's often a lot more difficult to resist than first realized. Nonetheless, once you have a good understanding of how racism often plays out, you can begin to take a meaningful stand against racism.

Instructions

1. Understand your own racist thoughts and behaviors. Many people like to think that they are not racist, but almost everyone occasionally makes snap judgments based on race. Racism doesn't only include negative thought about people of a certain race. For example, assuming that an Asian person is good at math is also racist. When you have racist thoughts, recognize it. This is the first step to becoming less racist.

2. Speak out against racism. If a coworker tells a racist joke, speak out and say that you are offended instead of laughing along with the group. It's hard to do this at first, but stand your ground.

3. Teach your children about racism and to reject racist behavior. If your child exhibits racist tendencies, gently correct him or her. Encourage your local schools to have open discussions about race and racism, not just during "Black History Month," but throughout the year.

4. Join groups in your community that do work against racism. This will allow you to keep an open dialog about race between yourself and others. You will also be able to get more ideas about how you can have a direct effect on your community.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get too preachy or act haughty because of your stand against racism. People respond better to a humble approach.