peaccenicked
6th June 2002, 01:31
From an anti racist site.
14 Ways To Combat Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia
1) CHECK YOUR HEAD, WATCH YOUR MOUTH: "Coloured folk." "Those types." "Your people." We all use terms that are offensive and demeaning to groups of people. We throw around loaded terms like "race" without really thinking about what we mean or how valid they are. A big part of being against hate is being big enough to look at how you think and what you say. Because some terms and phrases are demeaning to people, and don't make you look very positive when you use them, either!
Try to start by taking a good look at the way you see, think, experience and relate to others. Try to appreciate the kinds of privileges your skin color, your gender, your sexual orientation and/or your class let you enjoy, maybe without you ever really thinking about it.
2) BIGOTED JOKES SUCK: Racist, sexist and homophobic jokes aren't harmless fun. They reinforce stereotypes about groups of people that have been discriminated against and treated unfairly. These jokes just reinforce the feeling that their targets are not included in "normal" society. That's called harassment. Don't tell racist, sexist or homophobic jokes and call other people on it when they do.
3) DON'T DENY DIFFERENCES, BUT DON'T EXAGGERATE THEM, EITHER: "When I look at you I don't see your color. You're just another person like I am." It's a nice thought, but people ARE different from each other and for a lot of people this is something to be treasured. If you deny what is important to them about themselves, you can hurt them without intending to, while underlining your status and standards as "normal."
But don't go too far in the other direction, like blurting out "where did you come from?" the minute you meet someone a little different from you. That can exaggerate differences and inflate exclusion of people. Try to keep things in perspective.
4) LEARN: Prejudice is all in your head. Take some classes or read some books or articles on the history of race relations or feminism or the gay rights movement. Learn another language. You'd be amazed at how much this changes how you see people and relate to them! By improving your knowledge of immigration, multiculturalism, racism, sexism, and homophobia, or by learning how to communicate better with people from other cultures, you improve yourself and make yourself a better fighter in the struggle against hate.
5) EACH ONE, TEACH ONE, SO WATCH WHAT YOU'RE TEACHING: Younger kids can really look up to you and imitate you. If you show them that being around different kinds of people is natural and normal and desirable, they will accept that as their world, too. Read them stories with positive role models of different backgrounds. Introduce them to different kinds of foods, music, dance, art. And talk TO them, not AT them!
6) DON'T LET IT GO: Racist, sexist and homophobic actions need to be confronted, or else you're saying that it's ok. Sometimes direct confrontation is what's needed. But usually in day-to-day life, talking to the offending person in private, one-on-one and with respect will get more positive results. Use your head to decide what style of confrontation is needed for any situation.
7) IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, DON'T STAY SILENT: If something bad happens to you, tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your classmates. Tell your co-workers. Tell your teachers. Tell your boss. Tell as many people as you can what happened. Maybe the same thing has happened to them, or maybe they can help you or just back you up.
If you find out that something bad has happened to someone you know, let them know that you are there for them. Don't act on their behalf. Let them decide what they want people to do and let them tell you how you can help, but be sure that they know that you want to help.
8) IF YOU'RE AGAINST HATE, SHOW IT: Wear an anti-racist, anti-sexist or anti-homophobic button, patch or t-shirt (ARA makes lots, or make your own!). Put up stickers or posters against prejudice. This tells everyone you see that you're committed to a hate-free world without you having to say a word. It also lets racists, sexists, homophobes and other bigots that they're not welcome.
9) PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES: Try to bridge differences by being open-minded. Challenge your way of thinking by becoming involved in ethnic organizations, immigrant support groups, or anti-racist groups like ARA (to find out how to join or start a chapter, go to: www.aranet.org). Volunteer with a class teaching English as a Second Language. There's a million things you can do to learn more about the world of people a little different from you.
10) YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS, SO DO SOMETHING: Put your anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic beliefs into practice. Attend activities, actions and demos in support of anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic issues. Or organize your own. If you get involved, you not only support others morally in the fight against hate, you send a clear message that your community is committed to fighting prejudice.
11) TRAVEL: The world is a big place, so go experience it! Live in other places with other people different from you and from the people you've known. You'll learn more about yourself and how things work than if you stayed in your little world of the safe and familiar.
12) MAKE NEW FRIENDS: Society tries to keep us from really getting to know people that are different from us; don't let it! Make an effort to make friends with people who look different than you, talk different than you, or act different than you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
13) MAKE YOUR MONEY TALK: Never underestimate the power of the dollar. Boycott places that are known to be racist, sexist or homophobic. Encourage other people to do the same thing. Above all, tell the place you're boycotting why you aren't giving them your money; otherwise they may never get the message!
While you're at it, use your money to make your community a better place. Don't be shy about donating to or raising money for causes you support that fight racism, sexism and homophobia or promote the kind of fun and diverse society you want to live in.
14) LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW: You stand up against racism and sexism and homophobia. Challenge racists. Confront sexists. Oppose homophobes. Tell people. Write a letter to the paper. Make posters and put them up. Record a song. Let everyone know where you stand. Add your voice to the thousands of others who fight for justice and diversity and harmony and fun.
TOGETHER, WE WILL WIN!
14 Ways To Combat Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia
1) CHECK YOUR HEAD, WATCH YOUR MOUTH: "Coloured folk." "Those types." "Your people." We all use terms that are offensive and demeaning to groups of people. We throw around loaded terms like "race" without really thinking about what we mean or how valid they are. A big part of being against hate is being big enough to look at how you think and what you say. Because some terms and phrases are demeaning to people, and don't make you look very positive when you use them, either!
Try to start by taking a good look at the way you see, think, experience and relate to others. Try to appreciate the kinds of privileges your skin color, your gender, your sexual orientation and/or your class let you enjoy, maybe without you ever really thinking about it.
2) BIGOTED JOKES SUCK: Racist, sexist and homophobic jokes aren't harmless fun. They reinforce stereotypes about groups of people that have been discriminated against and treated unfairly. These jokes just reinforce the feeling that their targets are not included in "normal" society. That's called harassment. Don't tell racist, sexist or homophobic jokes and call other people on it when they do.
3) DON'T DENY DIFFERENCES, BUT DON'T EXAGGERATE THEM, EITHER: "When I look at you I don't see your color. You're just another person like I am." It's a nice thought, but people ARE different from each other and for a lot of people this is something to be treasured. If you deny what is important to them about themselves, you can hurt them without intending to, while underlining your status and standards as "normal."
But don't go too far in the other direction, like blurting out "where did you come from?" the minute you meet someone a little different from you. That can exaggerate differences and inflate exclusion of people. Try to keep things in perspective.
4) LEARN: Prejudice is all in your head. Take some classes or read some books or articles on the history of race relations or feminism or the gay rights movement. Learn another language. You'd be amazed at how much this changes how you see people and relate to them! By improving your knowledge of immigration, multiculturalism, racism, sexism, and homophobia, or by learning how to communicate better with people from other cultures, you improve yourself and make yourself a better fighter in the struggle against hate.
5) EACH ONE, TEACH ONE, SO WATCH WHAT YOU'RE TEACHING: Younger kids can really look up to you and imitate you. If you show them that being around different kinds of people is natural and normal and desirable, they will accept that as their world, too. Read them stories with positive role models of different backgrounds. Introduce them to different kinds of foods, music, dance, art. And talk TO them, not AT them!
6) DON'T LET IT GO: Racist, sexist and homophobic actions need to be confronted, or else you're saying that it's ok. Sometimes direct confrontation is what's needed. But usually in day-to-day life, talking to the offending person in private, one-on-one and with respect will get more positive results. Use your head to decide what style of confrontation is needed for any situation.
7) IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, DON'T STAY SILENT: If something bad happens to you, tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your classmates. Tell your co-workers. Tell your teachers. Tell your boss. Tell as many people as you can what happened. Maybe the same thing has happened to them, or maybe they can help you or just back you up.
If you find out that something bad has happened to someone you know, let them know that you are there for them. Don't act on their behalf. Let them decide what they want people to do and let them tell you how you can help, but be sure that they know that you want to help.
8) IF YOU'RE AGAINST HATE, SHOW IT: Wear an anti-racist, anti-sexist or anti-homophobic button, patch or t-shirt (ARA makes lots, or make your own!). Put up stickers or posters against prejudice. This tells everyone you see that you're committed to a hate-free world without you having to say a word. It also lets racists, sexists, homophobes and other bigots that they're not welcome.
9) PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES: Try to bridge differences by being open-minded. Challenge your way of thinking by becoming involved in ethnic organizations, immigrant support groups, or anti-racist groups like ARA (to find out how to join or start a chapter, go to: www.aranet.org). Volunteer with a class teaching English as a Second Language. There's a million things you can do to learn more about the world of people a little different from you.
10) YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS, SO DO SOMETHING: Put your anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic beliefs into practice. Attend activities, actions and demos in support of anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic issues. Or organize your own. If you get involved, you not only support others morally in the fight against hate, you send a clear message that your community is committed to fighting prejudice.
11) TRAVEL: The world is a big place, so go experience it! Live in other places with other people different from you and from the people you've known. You'll learn more about yourself and how things work than if you stayed in your little world of the safe and familiar.
12) MAKE NEW FRIENDS: Society tries to keep us from really getting to know people that are different from us; don't let it! Make an effort to make friends with people who look different than you, talk different than you, or act different than you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
13) MAKE YOUR MONEY TALK: Never underestimate the power of the dollar. Boycott places that are known to be racist, sexist or homophobic. Encourage other people to do the same thing. Above all, tell the place you're boycotting why you aren't giving them your money; otherwise they may never get the message!
While you're at it, use your money to make your community a better place. Don't be shy about donating to or raising money for causes you support that fight racism, sexism and homophobia or promote the kind of fun and diverse society you want to live in.
14) LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW: You stand up against racism and sexism and homophobia. Challenge racists. Confront sexists. Oppose homophobes. Tell people. Write a letter to the paper. Make posters and put them up. Record a song. Let everyone know where you stand. Add your voice to the thousands of others who fight for justice and diversity and harmony and fun.
TOGETHER, WE WILL WIN!