6 Ways to Respond to Racism

Experiencing and seeing racism is tough. Here are six ways to help you respond to racism.

Responding to racist comments or incidents can be challenging for everyone – those who directly experience the racism and others present. Here are six ways to help you respond.

You can choose the approach that is the best fit. This might be in the moment when racism happens, or afterwards. Importantly, always consider your safety and that of those around you when choosing how you will respond.

1. QUESTION

Questions are a good way of challenging people who have said or done something racist. Sometimes you hear someone quoting facts, figures, and general information without really knowing where they got them from. Sometimes their information is inaccurate. 

It’s possible to use questions to challenge the person in a way that is not confrontational. 

For example, immigration is something that people are passionate about. Sometimes they will express negative opinions about immigration that they've heard or read. Those opinions need to be challenged. 

You could ask someone, "Where did you hear that?” or “Where did you get that from?" 

And it's all in the delivery. You've just done that in such a positive manner. You don't have to be confrontational or aggressive when you're asking a question to clarify their opinion.

2. INFORM

Sharing information with someone can help to challenge their opinion or attitude. Making sure that you're informing them with the correct facts, figures, and general information can be a really good way of challenging their opinions that are based on myths or misinformation. 

People pick up inaccurate facts and figures from all over the internet and they can be completely misinformed. This misinformation feeds those opinions and attitudes that you’re challenging. So be sure to do your research and make sure the information that you’re sharing is accurate.

3. REPHRASE

If someone says a comment that is obviously racist or plays on a racial stereotype - you can rephrase what they said to be more appropriate.

So immediately you've turned back the difficult thing they've said. You’re making them think again.

You’ve made a soft correction that gives them a chance to go back and rephrase what they’ve said. Rephrasing is often less confrontational than a direct challenge. It can encourage a correction without directly accusing someone of racism. Rephrasing is especially effective when people try to make jokes or passing quips.  

4. WITHDRAW

Let's face it – directly challenging somebody on something racist that they’ve said or done does take a lot of courage and isn't always possible to do. Sometimes, it's perfectly fine just to withdraw. 

You have to make sure that you keep yourself and others safe. If it isn’t possible to respond to racism in the moment that it happens, you can report it.

This indirect style of challenging racism is so important, and better than no challenge at all.

5. REPORT

Reporting racism might be the only possible way for you to respond. Also keep in mind that this indirect challenge can also be a good way to back up other responses to racism.

Reporting racism doesn't always mean that there's going to be some kind of punishment or consequence for the person. But it's a way of keeping record, especially if there's been recurring comments or incidents.

It’s about showing a pattern from the information that you’ve recorded. You end up with data about the types of racist comments or incidents that might be taking place. Then you can start to address them properly through specific things like anti-racism education in your team or club.

6. CHALLENGE

Sometimes directly challenging racism is the right thing to do. This especially rings true if you’re supported by people around you and there’s no danger. 

There are times when we need to let that person, and everyone around us, know that what's being said or done is unacceptable and that it needs to be addressed.

This is a chance for everyone to learn. And if a direct challenge is done in that spirit, it can be successful.