6 Ways to Tactfully Educate Your Coworkers About Racism

6 Ways to Tactfully Educate Your Coworkers About Racism Unless you work at the American Civil Liberties Union, you probably dont expect to engage in racially-based discussions at your place of employment. However, these conversations do come up. Its important to be prepared when they do. Racism is a controversial, yet necessary, conversation. As a woman of color, Ive both willingly and begrudgingly had to talk about race at places Ive worked. Here are some tips Ive used myself in order successfully educate coworkers about racism. 1. Check your motivation.Are you engaging in a conversation about race because youre looking to fight? It sounds strange, but its elend as bizarre as youd think. Maybe its a slow day at work, or maybe youre looking for a way to vent unrelated frustrations. Regardless, make sure you have good intentions when speaking of race at work. Diversity isnt a subject that should be taken lightly. If you arent trying to make the world a more accepting place, dont abflu g the conversation.2. Be Patient. It sounds easier than it is. Tensions often run high when talking about race. If you find yourself becoming too agitated, end the conversation. Dont make a huge scene in the middle of your office. A shouting match wont solve anything, and it could make you look bad to the rest of the company. 3. Set a realistic goal as to what you want to accomplish in your conversation.Rome wasnt built in a day, and slavery wasnt abolished overnight. In an ideal world, it would only a few words for someone to realize the harmful nature of their actions. But it doesnt work like that. Yes, you can launch into the entire history of slavery and how institutionalized racism still runs rampant today, but you can also just tell someone that racial slurs are bad. 4. Make it a discussion instead of a lecture.Theres a reason everyone stops paying attention in meetings where theyre getting talked at the entire time. If a conversation isnt engaging -- meaning both sides are ac tively participating -- then youre almost better off not having a conversation at all. Make sure to let the person youre talking to get a word in edgewise. Listening is just important as speaking.5. Remember, you most likely arent an expert on racial divisions either.Try to avoid sounding like an academic paper. In a conversation as nuanced as race, its hard to have all of the facts. Dont act like you do. Speak how you would in everyday conversation. 6. You dont always have to engage.I know, I know, sometimes you feel as though the weight of the Woke World rests on your socially conscious shoulders. If youre a person of color, there are days where you simply dont feel like arguing about race. This doesnt make you a bad person. You dont have to save the world every time. Sometimes its better for you to report an incident to HR instead of tackling it on your own. In fact, if you suspect workplace harassment of any kind, its important for you to contact those in charge. People are ther e to help you--Samaria Johnson is a freelance writer (and other things). You can find her on Twitter decentsamaritan.