Strategies and Activities for Reducing Racial and Prejudice

What is racial prejudice?

• To have an unfavorable or discriminatory attitude or belief towards someone else or another group of people primarily on the basis of skin color or ethnicity.

What is racism?

• Racism exists when racial prejudice is supported by institutions and laws.

Why is it important to reduce racial prejudice and racism?

• Prevent victims from achieving full potential.• Prevent victim's fullest contribution.• Prevents benefiting from victim's contributions. • They weaken the community as a whole.• They increase the likelihood of retaliation.• They go against democratic ideals• Racism is illegal, in many cases.

How can you reduce racial prejudice and racism

• Learn about your community.• Document activities of racism. • Understand the depth of the problem.• Identify policies that need to be challenged.• Determine short-term and long-term goals. • Consider existing and needed resources.• Consider how much time you have.• Review strategies.

Things you can do in the workplace:

• Recruit and hire diverse staff and members.

• Monitor for inclusion and fight racism.

• Note barriers diverse members face at work.

Things you can do in the media:

• Contact media about biased or no coverage.• Organize media coalition.• Organize presentations.• Pressure media to hire diverse individuals.

Things you can do in schools:

• Form a diversity task force or club.• Recognize a variety holidays and events.• Include anti-racism education in curriculum.• Change racist policies in your school.

Things you can do in your neighborhood:

• Welcome all newcomers.• Make "safe zone" signs or stickers.• Change policies that are exclusive.

Things you can do in your community

• Organize a cleanup campaign.• Put up "Hate Free Zones" signs.• Organize a coalition.• Sponsor a community forum on racism.• Celebrate traditions of diverse groups.• 10Organize anti-racism demonstrations.

Things you can do as an individual:

• Speak up when you hear racial slurs.

• Take advantage of events and information.

• Promote racial understanding at your workplace.

• Attend events about other cultures.