Yes, you should speak up if your family or friends post something racist

We all have someone in our lives who is prone to making — or posting — racist comments. The remarks (or memes, this is 2020 after all), may not be outwardly racist, but they have racial undertones or connotations that just don’t sit right. “All lives matter.” “What about black-on-black crime?” You know the drill.

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It’s important to call out those problematic comments when you see and hear them. “Failing to do so can be affirmation by silence,” Jacqueline Battalora, the author of ‘Birth of a White Nation: The Invention of White People and Its Relevance Today,’ told us. “You don’t have to do it directly; you can indicate that you are happy to talk offline.”

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We know it’s not easy. It may be one of the more uncomfortable things you’ve had to do, especially when it comes to family. And you won’t change everyone's mind, but you can get them thinking about how race operates — and who it benefits — in this country. Here are some tips on how to respond to racist posts and comments.

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Xo, Ashley Rockman

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In case you missed it:

Adults aren’t the only ones who make racially insensitive comments — kids make them, too. And though parents may think they should avoid talking about race with white children for fear of calling out differences, research has shown that even infants recognize different skin colors. By preschool age, children develop racial biases. So it’s important to address comments your kid makes about race now and have ongoing, age-appropriate conversations about inequality.

6 things kids say about race that parents should call out

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