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1. Inform yourself about racism
See the resources on
What to Do about Racism?
For more regular updating, subscribe to "Witness for Justice," a news
service of the United Church of Christ Commission on Racial Justice, 700
Prospect, Cleveland, OH 44115,
shoresk@ucc.org (weekly three-page bulletin, no charge).
Subscribe to an African American, Hispanic, Asian, or other ethnic
newspaper in your community.
2. Talk about current events
Talk within your family specifically about the
events that have racial implications. Encourage children to ask
questions and draw conclusions.
3. Celebrate heroes, holidays and cultural
events
Lift up for yourselves and your children the lives
of people of color, past and present, who have fought, and continue to
fight for racial justice. Enjoy the learning by surrounding it with
a party or other enjoyable event. Many communities have cultural
events (dance, theatre, art) that provide information as well as real
insights into the culture, history, and life of different racial groups.
Holidays (e.g., Kwanzaa, Cinco de Mayo, Chanukah) can also be times to
learn more about the values of other people.
4. Form interracial friendships
Concern for racism and risk-taking and persevering
action against racism are nurtured by the relationships we have across
racial lines. Such relationships are more easily achieved if we live
and work in integrated situations and our children go to integrated
schools.
5. Seek out racially diverse role
models/professionals
Children's attitudes are affected by the people they
relate to a variety of capabilities (doctors, dentists, teachers,
ministers, counselors). Make racial diversity one of the
criteria for choosing such professionals for yourself and your children.
6. Never use or allow racially derogatory
terms
Children need to know that comments and/or jokes
that belittle orinsult the racial or cultural ancestry of any person or
group are absolutely unacceptable in our homes. It is also
important for them to see us confront other adults about their language.
7. Check TV programming
Children can be brought into our discussion about TV
shows. We can look at the simple question of numbers: how many TV
series have African Americans? Hispanics? Asians? Native Americans? We can
also discuss the kinds of roles: are peole of color shown in positive or
in stereotypic ways? (For example, are African Americans shown in warm,
loving family situations or as perpetrators of crimes?)
8. Look at your voting patterns
Political candidates at all levels need to be
evaluated in terms of their stance and activity against racism in all
forms. Children can be part of discussion about these candidates,
about our voting decisions. In some communities, working on voter
registration drives is a concrete way of putting into practice concern
about the ability of all people to participate in the political system.
9. Write letters to the editors
In every community there are racial incidents that
occur as well as ever-present economic and political realities that
reflect the institutional dimensions of racism (for example, high
unemployment, infant mortality, difficulties in voter registration).
Families can let their opinions be known in the community through letters
that can be signed by the whole family.
10. Involve yourself in community projects
It is important for both adults and children to be
involved in projects in which the leaders are people of color.
11. Stand with the victims
Even though the circumstances vary from one
community to another, there are always opportunities to add our voices to
those fighting against the impact of racism, whether at school board
meetings, city council hearings, court proceedings or vigils. At
times these situations may be appropriate for the participation of
children.
12. Visuals
The pictures and other visual representations in our
homes should truly be multiracial. Children learn a lot from what
they see in their home environment. It is also important to check
for racial stereotyping in any of the visuals in our homes.
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