Teach your children that differences make us stronger together. Check out your local library for children's resources on diversity.
Things adults can do:
Read books about racism in America. Some suggestions include Growing Up White, Citizen, The New Jim Crow, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Invisible Man, The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. Read with others and talk about your experience of the book.
Act locally: join in and support the efforts of Reading Embraces Diversity - RED. Check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ReadingEmbracesDiversity/
How to talk about race: ("...being good is a practice that we carry out by engaging with our imperfections." TED talk at www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdxeFcQtaU
Resources on Diversity: This link has numerous webinars related to teaching tolerance. www.tolerance.org/professional-development/webinars
White and privileged?
Read these: onbeing.org/blog/what-i-said-when-my-white-friend-asked-for-my-black-opinion-on-white-privilege/; sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies
Rethink. Here are some guidelines: 1)Take up minimal space during anti-racism dialogues and protests. 2) Stop contributing to gentrification and calling it “urban development.” 3) Listen when people call you on your microaggressions.4) Never invite POC (people of color) to the table for the sake of claiming diversity. 5) Stop lifting up non-confrontational POC as examples for what POC activism should be. 6) Call your friends, family and co-workers out on racism—even if a POC isn’t in the room. 7) Understand that all anti-racism work doesn’t look the same and advocate accordingly. 8) Realize that all discussions about race aren’t for you. 9) Recognize that you’re still racist. No matter what. [taken from newsacred.org/2016/06/so-you-say-youve-got-white-privilege-now-what/ ]
If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values,
we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities,
and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric,
one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.
-Margaret Mead
we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities,
and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric,
one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.
-Margaret Mead