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Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
A former homeless man in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I am now back to my first love since being homeless no more, politics & racial oppression. Come join me on this adventure.

Friday, June 24, 2011

How To Erase Racism.

By Jueseppi B.




10 simple ideas to eliminate racism


1). Don't laugh at racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic and other stereotypical jokes  or assumptions. 
By laughing, you're acknowledging the joke is appropriate and encouraging more  inappropriate comments.  You can interrupt without being rude.  Don't let your  silence speak for you.  Simply say, "I don't find that funny," or "I don't  appreciate jokes like that."


2). Make an effort to get to know people different than you.
Look for things in common with other people and celebrate the differences.  We  can learn from and appreciate something about everyone.


3). Learn about other people and their culture. 
By learning about other people, your life will be greatly enriched and your  appreciation for your own culture will deepen. 


4). Think before you speak. 
Words can hurt, whether you mean them to or not.  When describing a person,  think if mentioning their race is important to the story.  Do you refer to everyone  from South or Central America as Mexican?  If you don't know someone's  country of origin, don't assume.  Some people prefer Black, while others like  African American. Some prefer Latino/a, others like Hispanic.  If you're unsure  which to use, ask.  It's important to use the correct language. 


5). Be a role model. 
Be vocal in opposing discriminatory views and practices, especially with friends  and family who respect your opinion.  Don't criticize, but help educate others  about issues and about your own experiences. 


6). Don't make assumptions. 
Do you assume that African Americans like rap music or that Asians are good at  math?  Stereotypes hurt everyone.  Examine what your prejudices are and make  adjustments to look at everyone as an individual. 


7). Explore the unfamiliar. 
Attend an organization meeting, religious service or travel to a new region where  you are in the minority.  For example, if you are Christian attend a Jewish service  at a synagogue.  If you attend an all white suburban school visit an inner-city  multi-cultural school.  This first-hand experience can be enlightening and give you  perspective. 


8). Work on projects with members of groups different from your own.
Working as an equal alongside others from different groups on a common  project is one of the best ways to undo prejudice and increase familiarity with  others. 


9). Be a proactive parent. 
Expose your children to diversity at a young age.  Read stories that explain the  point of view of other groups.  Discuss TV shows, movies or books that present  stereotypes.  Children can benefit from knowing other children from different  groups at very early ages, before prejudices and biases are formed. 


10). Support anti-prejudice and anti-racist organizations. 
Whether your efforts are in volunteering, financial donation or being an  advocate, working with other groups toward the same goal can be beneficial to  you and the community.  You'll meet great people and find real support for your  efforts.  By getting involved, your voice can make a big difference at the local  level.


"Disagree Intelligently, Use Facts & Truth".

2 comments:

  1. Thank you Sir. Exactly what I need, of course some of this is just common sense and decency. Some points I already knew. Another thing I know is that you can't shame a racist, they are incapable of shame, lack the morality for it. So, this list is for people who already know racism is wrong, but are unaware they have inherent prejudices. Please correct any wrong thinking I have as we go along.

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  2. Nothing to correct MsMouse....you are way ahead of the curve. It is a pleasure to know you. Not every person who is racists can, or wants, to be helped. For those who remain hardcore racists...avoidance works best for me, because I have others solutions for them I will NOT post.

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