Most of us grow up near a group of people like ourselves. Naturally, we flock to those that have similar experiences and opinions. The only interactions we have with people different from ourselves is the news, a book, or a movie. How the media we consume portrays these groups of people can enforce, or shape, specific preconceived ideas we may have. We hold one individual as the example and voice of the rest from a group. We do not do this with white Americans because we know so many of them. We can categorize them into groups and understand extenuating circumstances that led to one white person making one wrong decision. We do not hold all white people accountable for the actions of the one that committed a mass shooting at a school, or spewed hateful words, or that threatened to call the police on someone else. But our limited interactions with minorities and social constructs limit our ability to separate other groups in the same way. This creates a cycle of putting minorities down, believing generalizations, and exhibiting subconscious racist actions.
Saying you are not a racist or do not see color, does not help break down the barriers I have described above. I believe most people are good people but do not understand the root of the problem they are facing. And if you are not aware, you cannot make proper progress. To dismantle racism, microaggressions, and systemic inequity, we must seek out those different from ourselves. That is the bottom line. When you familiarize yourself with individuals from different races, you learn about their history, a different point of view, and a narrative that differs from the one shown in the media. The more people from a group you meet, the better able you are to humanize them. They are just like you in more ways than you might have realized.
Anti-racism means actively speaking out against social inequity and injustice on behalf of marginalized groups. We are all guilty of being unaware of the struggles that other groups of people are fighting every day. We are caught up in our daily plight and are defensive because we feel parity between our problems. To care and be aware of other’s struggles does not take away from your own. It is not a pie. In that same vein, saying someone has white privilege does not mean they are immune to adversity, have unlimited access to money, and live a carefree life. It just means a person does not struggle for daily human rights. It means they were not subject to redlining. It means they are not scared to walk down the street at night. It means they do not depend on the Supreme Court to determine if they have the same rights as someone else.
So how do you become more aware, and fight for the rights of everyone everywhere? Try to meet more people different than yourself. The first place to start is your social media account. How many people do you follow that look exactly like you? How often does your social media feed challenge your perspective and beliefs? Instead of an echo chamber where everyone agrees with each other, find accounts with different cultures, races, and opinions. Maybe you can search for a Black makeup artist, LGBTQ non-profit organization, Hispanic activist, or Asian designer. The possibilities are endless. Having a diversified feed is the first step to opening your awareness of social issues and cultural differences. That does not mean messaging them and asking them to educate you. It does not mean leaving rude comments when you disagree. It means following and learning from the content and perspective they provide. Search the internet to further educate yourself on a topic they introduced. Then, possibly, starting a respectful dialogue.
Searching for nonprofit organizations is another great way to get an introduction to people and groups different from yourself. Nonprofits provide a platform for groups to speak out and educate the public about specific injustices. They are there to change the narrative. To understand their point of view, go to the source and learn what they have to say. Speak with your time and money, as both allows them to accomplish their mission. It would be impossible to give a monetary donation to everything that speaks to us. But taking time to email your senator about an issue, call the city hall budget department, or sign a petition can have significant positive effects when all citizens take part. It is essential to uplift and support individuals and companies that are advancing the rights of marginalized groups. Speaking out with your money includes judiciously spending. Does the company marginalize minorities by not offering a living wage or engage in unethical practices? Social media has dramatically improved our access to such organizations. Exploring their website is a free resource to learn about new injustices and causes they are fighting. These organizations also educate about upcoming elections and the importance of voting. I will list some resources below, most of which are very well known.
- www.aclu.org
- www.minnesotafreedomfund.org
- www.whitehelmets.org
- www.thetrevorproject.org
- Human Rights Foundation
Lastly, let’s address the media. The media often reinforces stereotypes and fear monger about specific groups. Become aware of the language used to describe each group. Do they use dehumanizing terms like “animals”? Do they act surprised that there is a successful person in a group that is typically thought of to be unintelligent? Do they degrade outspoken women? On your favorite television series, how many non-whites are on the cast? Is the Black character a professional, or a criminal? These powerful, but often over-looked, tropes reinforce all our fear and pre-conceived ideas. There is so much content available you can easily change who you support and choose to watch. Food in the media is another point about the intersectionality of food, racism, and culture. Find content with the marginalized group teaching you about their food and traditions. What is the history of tacos, kabobs, and spices? How did immigration influence all the foods we eat? What is the culture where these foods originated? We can connect with others through shared interests, and everyone eats. Appreciate these foods, and where they came from, instead of erasing the history and taking it as your own. Some shows that I recommend are listed below.
- Ugly Delicious (Netflix)
- When they see us (Netflix)
- The 13th (Netflix)
- Final Table (Netflix)
- Trevor Noah, The Daily Show
Becoming more aware of and learning from the marginalized groups is the first step to seeing change. Once you know better, you can do better. I have hope for the future. I love seeing everyone marching and raising awareness on their feeds. We all need to do the work within ourselves to learn about our implicit bias and address it. Interject racist jokes at work. Bring up ideas on improving diversity and education at the workplace. Try to view things from someone else’s perspective before making your conclusion on a situation. Just because someone says Black Lives Matter, does not mean they do not care about cops. Calling for police reform does not mean all cops are bad. Really listen to the argument, then decide on what you believe.
I still have a lot to learn and am trying to change some of my behaviors. I want to post about my food and life, but it is important to continue activism. This is not one moment in time, but a journey and movement we need to continue. These are the changes I am starting with as I continue my journey. It can be challenging to find the right words, and we all fear saying the wrong thing the wrong way. But the worst thing we can do is stay silent. To be complicit in these behaviors out of fear. Or complacency.
