To ask for your practical ANTI-RACIST things to do?

[WhenAllsSaidandDone]

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:

1. 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.

1. 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).

1. Writing to school management/head teacher about something similar for their website, etc.

1. 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.

1. 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.

[ViciousJackdaw]

How come you haven't said 'Challenge racism whenever we encounter it'? We can watch black actors and write to the Head all we want but if we are going to turn a blind eye and do sweet FA when we encounter someone being racially abused or when we hear someone making racist remarks then what is the point of all this?

[SparklesAllOver]

What Sparklybanana said.

[WhenAllsSaidandDone]

@ViciousJackdaw I asked for anyone to add to the list. It's not just my list. Some may get something from it, others obviously not.

It was part of no 4 actually but got whittled down in editing. Thought it was obvious but yep, that too definitely.

[WhenAllsSaidandDone]

Also saying "challenge racism" is a broad term. How do you challenge it? Hence the list of little details. Open to anyone to add to it.

[GreytExpectations]

Op, your intention is good but this is Mumsnet so unfortunately you will get many ignorant responses from white posters who don't see it as a problem because it doesn't impact them. That's the sad truth but I think it's great that you are trying.

[Hollyhead]

One thing is if you have recruitment influence at work to insist on blind shortlisting. That is you only see qualifications, personal statement and job history. Nothing about name, address, fob etc. This also helps to tackle other ‘isms’.

[TinyPigeon]

Sorry your thread is being derailed by racist morons. Thanks for the list.

[YounghillKang]

If you want to start with the immediate context, try reading Gary Younge's article he concludes with ways in which BAME people can be supported during the UK Coronavirus crisis. Listening is always a good start!

We can’t breathe
What connects the most brazen forms of state violence against black people and the struggles of BAME coronavirus patients is systemic racism.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/06/we-cant-breathe

[WhenAllsSaidandDone]

@GreytExpectations @TinyPigeon. Thanks. I'm aware of the 'chronic derailers' and "I'm so bored of racism but have to insert myself in every racial thread" brigade. Have intentionally ignored them so as not to allow the thread's point to be missed.

[Terralee]

I've set up a direct debit to an antifa group who are a charitable organisation that educate young people about racism, anti semitism & islamophobia in divided areas.

I challenge racism when I hear it. As long as there is no direct physical risk from the perpetrator obviously eg they may have a knife. But I have called out racism several times by colleagues & patients at work.

[Coffeebiscuitsrepeat]

I am 'anti racist' (which is surely the same as non-racist ), but do this by choosing to treat every race with the respect they deserve. I don't feel like I have to adhere to someone else's list of actions outwardly to be strongly against racism within (and not afraid to say so when challenged).

[StillWeRise]

whenever you create something (like a poster for the PTA, or if you are a teacher obviously worksheets etc) make sure you include illustrations of BAME people, use non anglo names etc
stock your first aid kit (especially if it's shared, like in a workplace) with blue plasters

[GreytExpectations]

I am 'anti racist' (which is surely the same as non-racist hmm)

No its not the same, hence the point of this thread. Being non racist is passive, being anti racist is active.

[pisspants]

This was posted on my local anti racist group:
write-for-changes.herokuapp.com/
It's a web app where all you have to do is input your name and postcode, and it automatically generates 3 very clear and comprehensive emails from a template to the relevant parties (Local MP and CEO of Thameslink) demanding:
Justice for Belly Mujinga
The immediate ceasing of UK arms exportation to the US
The immediate inclusion of Black histories into the National Curriculum

[MollyFish82]

Hard to believe that so many people think the right thing to do is bury our fucking heads and hope ignoring the problem will make it go away.

Bunch of enablers.

[1Morewineplease]

@StillWeRise
Most schools use worksheets that include BAME characters and references. Many school reading schemes have included BAME characters for a number of years.

As to blue plasters, they’re intended for caterers as, if they come adrift, they can be easily identified in food.

[GreytExpectations]

@MollyFish82

Hard to believe that so many people think the right thing to do is bury our fucking heads and hope ignoring the problem will make it go away.

Bunch of enablers.

Agrees. That's how white privaledge works unfortunately. It hasn't been an issue for the lovely white people so why would they care?

[teacuptale]

Thanks for starting this thread,OP. I’m also planning to read some books on the topic, both to help me become more articulate when talking about/confronting racism and to identify anything that I might be doing or saying that could be inadvertently hurtful. Fingers crossed I won’t find anything.

[Samtsirch]

Thé main thing I intend to do is educate myself as much as I can about racism and white privilege.There’s so much I was not aware of and not really any excuse for my ignorance.

[NoseyfriendNC]

Did you know that per head of population, there are more bame people on TV to their population in the country already?

This is wrong. You just have to watch tv for a few hours tomorrow morning and you'll realise how wrong this statement is - Breakfast TV, This Morning, Loose women - all are mainly white people. What about soaps like coronation street, Emmerdale ect. Countdown, BGT, Bake-off, strictly come dancing, the list is endless. What programs are you watching?

Lots of people have been aking what they can do to support this instead of protesting. If you have a better or another way of supporting the BLM movement then feel free to share it.

[WhenAllsSaidandDone]

I'd rather employ somebody because they have a good cv..

Same trope many online harp on to defend racism in the corporate sector. Do you then mean ethnic minorities are mostly under-achievers compared to their white counterparts? They rarely have appealing CVs, since they're not often chosen?


One thing is if you have recruitment influence at work to insist on blind shortlisting. That is you only see qualifications, personal statement and job history. Nothing about name, address, fob etc. This also helps to tackle other ‘isms’.

This seems to be the solution but sadly the same people who deny any foul play in the recruitment process for BAME people will come back to say the company is "stupidly fulfilling diversity quota" when more people of ethnic minority are hired and visible. Oh no, it could not have been that their CVs have finally been looked at and rightly seen as worthy. Nope, it was a pity hire cos how could they have passed the process?

Pick one: you're either hiring on merit or not. SMH.