What I've learned recently is that there's a difference between non-racist and anti-racist. Being non-racist is all well and good (and we all claim to be) but the real change happens when one is anti-racist. Non-racism is passive, Anti-racism is active.
I'll like to ask you to join in writing out a list of practical everyday stuff we could all do in our bid to be more anti-racist (if you're not already) and join in this fight against racism. Some are:
- Shopping for black dolls/books with black characters especially as the lead (Prince/ss, Scientist, Superhero, etc) and not just the token friend to the white character, so your DC gets used to having beautiful dolls of different colours and books with different races working together and seeing them equally.
- Writing to shop management about the lack of black representation on their website, posters etc and asking for a more diverse range of toys/books to be displayed in the shops, available for all to buy. (Not just for black people to buy black dolls or books with black characters but for white people to do the same. BAME have had to buy white dolls/books with only white characters for ages).
- Writing to school management/head teacher about something similar for their website, etc.
- Not only raising children to be decent human beings but also having ongoing active conversations with them regarding how some people in society are treated and letting them know it is unacceptable to [insert different ways they can be unfairly treated] and what they can do if they witness this.
- Actively searching out films with more than a token black/BAME character to watch, etc and petitioning to have much more than one in a film.
The aim is to ensure that our children grow up seeing and appreciating people of all colours in their daily lives, particularly if we don't live in very diverse areas. We've no excuses now.
Please add to this list, thanks.