Do you have a friend that is unintentionally racist? Do you not know how to go about calling them on out it? Then you’ve come to the right place! Just follow these five simple steps and you’ll be on your way to helping your friend put an end to their accidental racism in no time!
1.) CALL THEM OUT: I know that’s kind of obvious, but it is necessary. You can’t fix a problem until they know it’s a problem. You don’t have to get all sassy with them, just a quick “Whoa, bro. No,” will do.
2.) PLAN OUT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO SAY BEFORE YOU START: Yes, this is a little strange, but if you’re going to educate someone on a serious topic like racism you want to make sure that you explain it in a way that
a.) your friend will understand and
b.) you know is totally accurate.
3.) DON’T BE SO ‘PREACHY” WITH IT: People tend to lose interest if it feels like you’re lecturing them on a certain topic. Make sure the unintentional racist is able to get a few words in, and that they’re able to ask questions if they’re confused by a certain aspect.
4.) UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THE TRUE MEANING OF RACISM: Shocking, right? It’s true, though. A lot of people genuinely believe that racism is just the hatred of another race, which isn’t exactly true. Racism is the oppression of a minority race, which is why you often hear people say “reverse racism isn’t real”, because it’s not possible. Just do your best to be patient with said person and hopefully you’ll be able to get your point across.
5.) IF ALL ELSE FAILS, JUST FAIL COMPLETELY: Dude, your friend is racist, and frankly, they don’t care. They’re aware of their actions and they believe them to be genuinely justified and necessary. I suggest finding a new friend, and praying your ex-unintentional-but-is-actually-intentional racist friend never runs for president.
