Modern-day racism exists because of the current circumstances that we were all born into.

Fortunately, there are steps you’ve got the option to take to embark on an anti-racism journey.

Raising your own awareness of any biases and stereotypes can be key to breaking down barriers.

two friends walking in nature

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Ethnic minorities still experience a great deal of prejudice and discrimination.

Studies have found that minorities are:

These are just a few examples.

Clearly, many individuals experience racism on a daily basis in many different ways.

So its important to acknowledge that minorities are still facing ongoing discrimination.

Recognizing that racism exists is the first step toward creating positive change.

Listen to the experiences of other people.

When you hear other people’s situations and stories, be willing to listen with an open mind.

Research shows people who claim theyre never prejudiced are the most likely to be prejudiced.

Participants were asked to report how egalitarian they believed they were compared with other people in regard to race.

Then, they stated how favorable they felt about Black people in the workplace.

Finally, participants completed the Implicit Association Test to measure their implicit biases related to race.

Researchers found that those who reported being the most egalitarian displayed the most implicit bias toward Black people.

Other studies have uncovered similar results.

People in privileged groups are more likely to deny the existence of bias.

Keep in mind that no one is completelyprejudiced or not prejudicedat all.

The biases we have are still running on this same internal system.

Take a Test to Identify Your Biases

Project Implicit is a non-profit organization that helps people identify hidden biases.

After all, on the surface, you may think youre accepting of people from all races.

But the truth is you likely have some stereotypes and biases that you might not even recognize.

Take thisfree test, and discover a bit more about your hidden biases.

Being mindful of other people’s responses to your interactions can also be helpful as well.

For example, if someone seems offended by something you said or did, inquire about that further.

Learn About Yourself

You might think your anti-racism journey should start with learning about others.

But developing moreself-awarenessfirst can be key to helping you gain insight into your beliefs.

It can make you more aware of your own biases while sparking curiosity about otherculturesand races.

She believes that part of the root of biases we have stems from personal shortcomings.

By learning to accept ourselves more authentically, we can then improve as a society.

Learn About Other People

Educate yourself about other races as well.

Read books, watch movies, and review articles that describe other peoples experiences.

You dont have to stick to just scientific journals and documentaries.

You may find many fiction books give insight into unfamiliar backgrounds too.

Get your news from a variety of sources.

Watching the same channel and reading articles from the same website only gives you one view.

Learn from many different people, and youll see there are many ways to tell the same story.

Interact With People of Different Races

Theres no substitute for first-hand experience.

Youll learn a lot when youlisten to people.

But dont ask them to educate you on racism.

Asking them to do more workor essentially make a run at explain their daily experiencesplaces more burden on them.

This study shows that biases can be changedeven the ones that seem automatic.

Learning about your stereotypes can significantly reduce your levels of prejudice.

Reach out to a therapist.

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