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After Donald Trump was sworn into presidency, a wave of hate crimes sprouted around the country. Hundreds of people began uploading videos of riots, and thousands more interacted with and shared some of the injustices revealed on social media. White supremacists felt vindicated by the win, and the racial divide in American became more apparent. Then, back in 2016, the “safety pin movement” started. Non-minorities who wanted to demonstrate that they were allies minorities wore a simple safety pin to represent their stance. However, many people saw this ineffective, and almost offensive. Today, it’s important to go beyond the safety pin and take action.
“Marginalized communities have been [mobilizing] for a very long time,” said Rowaida Abdelaziz, a Muslim social media editor at Huffington Post. “And we’ve always had a voice. So, it’s not that we’re just starting out. It’s that we need to be amplified and that’s where the allies come in.”
Today, social media and technology have made it easier than ever to put some of those biases on blast, as well as support people who have been victimized by them. There are many ways you can start assisting minorities in times of racial divide, and you can encourage others to do the same, too. Here are a few ways you can do so:
Work on Self-Reflection
Part of showing support is taking time to self-reflect and realizing where you stand in the position of racism. Everyone carries learned biases in some form and capacity, and when you start to deconstruct those, you’ll be able to see the world around you more clearly. Taking relevant race and religious classes, journaling, and discussing your feelings with a therapist can help. There’s power in numbers, and campus associations and movements are also a great way to get involved. Many campuses around the world have groups dedicated to facing issues that minorities face.
Additionally, you’ll have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. If you’re a white person, this will happen often during religious and racist discussions. For instance, it’s important to recognize how certain phrases and claims—like being “color blind”—are offensive, namely because it erases the experiences minorities have endured and shows ignorance to what’s happening in our country today.
Technology health startups like Talkspace make it easier than ever for people to find therapy without leaving the comfort of their home. It also costs significantly less than traditional therapy, making it much more accessible to people who don’t have the budget or insurance to cover it. The platform boasts over 3,000 licensed therapists who can assist with a variety of issues.
Help Minority Youth
If the future lies in the children, then you should show your support by volunteering to help minority youth. Today’s minority youth are growing up in an era where the racism divide in America is strong, and it’s more important than ever to reach them when they need it most. For instance, the Sacramento Minority Youth Violence Prevention (SMYVP) Collective is just one group that aims to prevent youth violence by creating a web of support for minorities in the area.
The ethnic and racial disparities within the criminal justice system have long since been an issue. Compared to white youth, Black youth are 5x more likely to be sent to juvenile detention centers. In certain states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, they are 10x more likely. Get involved in preventive and reform programs to help curb those statistics. Even if you impact just one student’s life, you would have made a difference. It also goes a long way towards helping you understand what minority youth are experiencing in their homes and communities.
Education is one of the best ways to curb this statistic, and there are many programs and apps, and you can get involved through the power of teaching. For example, there are very low numbers for people in the black community to code. As a result, some entrepreneurs have dedicated themselves to teaching minorities this lucrative skill. Van Jones pledged to teach 100,000 low-income children how to code. You can also help children learn to code through the many coding and programming apps for kids. They’re easy to learn, fun to play with, and allow you to build a bond with the kids you teach.
Educate Yourself
One of the first steps you should take if you’re interested in supporting minorities is to educate yourself. Instead of assuming what you see on the media is accurate, you the extra mile to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and better understand the history. You can start by doing simple things, like reading or watching movies known to accurately represent real-world events. Then, you should take it a step further to put yourself in their world. For instance, if you want to better understand Muslims, why not stop to visit a mosque? Or ask to have a conversation with a Muslim?
Many people are happy to answer questions about their religion or their experience with racism. However, keep in mind that when you enter a conversation with a minority about racism, you should enter it with an open mind and some knowledge beforehand. The truth is, many minorities feel burdened by having to educate others on racism. If you do find someone (preferably a friend), be sure to take a passive listening role and absorb the information. Do not question their experiences or take a defensive stance if you, as a white person, feel personally offended.
