9 Ways to Fight Racism Without Breaking the Bank
By: Francis M. Garcia Fernandez
Tags: Politics, Society, History, Justice, Racism

Racism is a leading issue in the United States and worldwide, and as spectators or victims, we want to help. One of the most popular and effective ways is to donate to anti-racism organizations. But we are in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people in the US alone and has caused an economic recession. Donating is not an option for everyone right now. Thankfully, using our wallets is not the only way to help end a culture and system of racism.

Here are 9 more:

1 — Acknowledge White Privilege

A person’s fairer skin color provides them with more freedoms and advantages. White people enjoy a better relationship with the police and school authorities. Even poverty is experienced differently by darker and lighter skin tones. Diverse racial representation is much harder to find for people of color. The public education system, children’s books, and the media do not appropriately portray Black Americans or do not portray them at all. This overall perception by policies on drug crime or the specific characteristics of beauty devalues the worth of a Black person’s life. We must first acknowledge this difference in the perception by society of White people and people of color to have an informed judgment of today’s culture of racism.

2 — Recognize Unconscious Bias

Everyone has biases. Due to the environment in which we were raised or the society in which we were born, our biases become part of us. But this does not mean that they are correct or naturally beneficial. Unconscious racial prejudice can be hurtful to others. In our police departments and justice system, we find that there are consequences to the unconscious bias of authority figures. We can do something about this. By recognizing our unconscious racial bias and taking more time when making decisions involving people of color, we can make our choices less biased and fairer.

3 — Learn About the History of Racism

Learning about the history of racism helps us understand that our everyday issues with racism are the product of centuries of oppression. A timeline of notable events in the development of racism:

American history is stained; it is stained with slavery, racism, and injustice for millions of Americans. We can't change the past, but we can still improve our future. Learning about the history of oppression helps us understand the value of empathy and equality.

4 — Use Social Media for Good

In our globalized world, social media is a powerful tool and can be successful if properly used. Relaying anti-racist messaging puts more pressure on government representatives and individuals of authority to consider Black people.

We can also do more than reposting and liking. Commenting on and expressing our personal experience/perspective is just as crucial in creating a more accurate discussion about race. Accounts to follow:

5 — Listen to People of Color

Having different cultures and experiences means that we don’t always think the same way or agree on everything, but we can still listen. Talking about race is uncomfortable yet necessary. Listening is part of respecting Black people in the entirety of their identity. We must make an effort to empathize before disagreeing with the emotions and feelings of entire racial or ethnic groups.

6 — Advocate for Black and Brown Folks Locally

“Matter is the Minimum. Silence is Compliance!” Protesters in Washington D.C. | 28 Aug 2020 | Photo Credit: Johnny Silvercloud

Diverse representation begins at the local level. We can start advocating for change, equality, and people of color in power in our immediate environment — our workplace and local businesses. A great way to organize and form a more formidable force towards justice is by creating or supporting petitions. Many of the racist events that occur are addressed at the local, city, and county levels. By signing petitions and advocating for the people of color we know, everyone’s interests can be represented.

The second part of local advocacy is organizing and protesting. Protests strongly influence political agendas because the logistics of a march or boycott take effort from the public. This sends a message to those in power that change is imminent. Rather than solely marching or taking part in a protest, we can also utilize our artistic talents to bring people together around issues of racial justice. Follow these guidelines for safe protest during the pandemic.

mural of police brutality victim George Floyd being painted | image by Stephanie Valencia on Unsplash

7 — Take Care of Yourself

We might not think of this when brainstorming ideas to advocate for justice, but it is still important to maintain our strength in this fight. The COVID-19 pandemic harms our mental health. Therefore, making sure that we are healthy and energized is essential. We can’t support the racial justice movement if we don’t keep our mental and physical health in check.

8 — Understand Systemic Racism

Racist individuals exist, but we still need to understand that this number of people is only part of a larger system of racism. Systemic racism is powered by the policies of government and businesses. If we can change the structure of the system, we can change the culture and ultimately eliminate racism. When referring to racism, it is important to allude to the much more holistic term, “systemic racism.”

9 — Vote!

Voting seems like a simple process or action, but it is one of the most influential towards reforming the system. National Presidential and Congressional elections get much of the attention, but don’t forget about local elections for school board, police, and city representatives. These are just as important!

The Georgia runoff elections are on 5 January 2021 and will determine which party controls the Senate. Congressional midterm elections are in 2022.

If you are not able to vote, help others vote and advocate for fairness in elections.

Summary

Fighting for racial justice is a national effort, but individually we can make progress if we involve others. It is never too late nor financially unsuitable to learn more about racism and start making an impact: