Quote:
Originally posted by Chemical X.
Surround yourself with diversity. Follow people of different races on social media, expand what you watch and read. Hearing the real-life stories of people you've never interacted with will give them a human face in your mind rather than a stereotyped one.
Examine your opinions and behavior.
Shut up and listen to people of color. Be open to new perspectives and don't get defensive.
Try sympathy. Even if you don't understand what a person of color is explaining, or don't believe it, try to understand why it hurts them emotionally. Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine circumstances where you're the only person of your race in a room, or imagine if people were making jokes about your culture. Sometimes there needs to be an emotional understanding before things become political. This ties into the advice about real-life stories-- many people have only dealt with others who were very similar to them. Many people are ignorant about other races and ethnicities. Seriously, the simple act of listening will take you a long way.
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This is wonderful. Thank you.
Also, people of color have to deal with racism 24/7. They don't have the privilege to "take a break" from the racism so ingrained in our society and culture. With that said, if it seems like they are being "impatient" or "rude" or "condescending," keep that in mind. They don't have to be calm and patient when discussing these topics.
