Suggestions for Avoiding Racism

1. Be aware of your own racist feelings and thoughts.
   
   
2. Commit yourself to discourage and to disagree openly with racist comments, jokes, or actions among those around you.
   
   
3. Learn about the nature of the differences in customs and traditions between your group and another group.
   
   
4. Commit yourself to working on institutional racism.
   
   
5. Be aware of the privileges you enjoy.
   
   
6. Pray than God may empower you to be a part of God's work.
   
   
7. Pray daily for the eradication of racism and prejudice.
   
   
8. Remember that God is redeeming the world and bringing an end to racism.
   
   
9. Disapprove openly those who are responsible for racist acts and attitudes without condemnation o the person(s).
   
   
10. Investigate hiring practices of companies in your community you suspect of hiring few or no African Americans.
    
    
11. Support legislation, which assures that everyone, is protected against discrimination in housing and employment.
    
    
12. Support organizations which are working to provide good education for all children, not just their own.
    
    
13. Trade with businesses owned by African American individuals and seek help from African American professionals—doctors, dentists, lawyers, sociologists, and therapists.
    
    
14. Avoid the tendency to lump all minorities together or view them as the same.
    
    
15. Stress cultural pluralism and celebrate diversity while discarding the notion of the U.S. as a melting pot.
    
    
16. Watch for stereotyping in language, roles, media and in institutional practices.
    
    
17. Recognize that by treating everyone the “same” does not mean that everyone is being treated fairly.
    
    
18. Become familiar with different historical world views that each racial and cultural group represents. Although George Washington might be considered an American hero to whites, since he owned slaves he may be considered just the opposite by blacks.
    
    
19. Develop a contemporary perspective about race and culture. Read African American publications and listen to African American leadership to understand the full range of opinions on issues.
    
    
20. Be more accepting of descriptions and perceptions of Blacks and their life experiences in America.
    
    
21. Take some risks. Attend activities and events that are sponsored by individuals outside your ethnic/racial group.
    
    
22. Participate in workshops, conferences and classes that deal with race and culture.
    
    
23. Encourage parishioners and parish leadership to engage in community action that promotes racial and social justice.
    
    
24. Involve African Americans in the planning and conducting of parish and community programs.
    
    
25. Have parish commemorations to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Black History Month. (Resources are available like “Speak With One Voice Against Racism” and the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice.
    
    
26. Recruit people to come to more specialized and intense programs on the elimination of racism conducted through Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and Carlow College Ecumenical Institute on Racism.
    
    
27. Attend other diocesan, parish, or community programs, forums, and activities that address the elimination of racism in church and society.
    
    
28. Make sure that study groups on church documents and Biblical mandates on racism and social justice are regularly featured in the parish.
    
    
29. When a student or family member asks questions about race, convey only facts—not myths, biased views, or stereotypes.
    (Be sure that YOU know the facts.)
    
    
30. Protest to publishers when stereotypical and offensive images of ethnic and racial groups are used in any publications intended for use in schools and parishes.