Jubail International School

Anti - Racism

By: Mrs. Ghazal B. Mahrous \ School Social Counselor

2023-2024
 What Is Racism?

Racism is the belief that characteristics (usually physical) make

certain groups superior or inferior to others.
Racist behavior can be interpersonal; treating some people
according to their race or color, for example, and also
institutional; for example: societies systematically denying
groups the exercise of their human rights on an equal footing to
others; societies limiting opportunities in the political, economic,
social, cultural or other fields of public life to specific groups
based on race.
 01

What Is Anti-Racism?
Anti-racism is a process of actively identifying and
opposing racism. The goal of anti-racism is to challenge
racism and actively change the policies, behaviors, and
beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions.
Anti-racism is rooted in action. It is about taking steps
to eliminate racism at the individual, institutional, and
structural levels.
Understand What Racism Is

People often think of racism solely in terms of individual actions. The

word may conjure up images of people in White cloaks or neo-Nazi’s

with shaved heads. While both represent racism, it is important to

realize that racial discrimination is not always so overt.

Believing that racism is always so direct blinds us from recognizing and

examining our own biased beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Understand What Racism Is

For example, Merriam-Webster dictionary defined racism as, “a belief that race

is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial

differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” In the wake of

the George Floyd protests, editors of the dictionary decided to update the

definition in response to one reader’s request to more clearly include the role

that systemic racism plays.

Kendi suggests that a racist is “One who is supporting a racist policy through

their actions or inaction or expressing a racist idea."

 Why Anti-Racism Is Important?
Recognizing the presence of racism is the first step toward its abolition.
Many people assume that racism is always blatantly apparent or purposeful, yet
racism may manifest itself in a variety of ways.
Ending racial injustice requires the abolishment of laws that disproportionately and
negatively affect certain races. It's not enough to acknowledge that a law has a
discriminatory intent or impact; it must be overturned. To eliminate systemic
racism, laws based on racism and designed to maintain unequal outcomes must be
removed.
 Anti-Racism Is Important
For racism to be eradicated, people must commit to being anti-racist. Even if
everyone quit being racist overnight, systemic racism would still exist;
nevertheless, that first step in personal anti-racism is required for people to
struggle to remove racist systems. Anti-racism is a lifetime endeavor.

It's not a task you can cross off a list; it's a process of
constant self-reflection and willingness to be held
accountable.
Why Anti-Racism Is Important?
If you witness or hear someone being racist toward another person, you can
offer assistance to the individual who is experiencing this. Simply checking
whether they're okay and informing them that what you observed was
incorrect can go a long way toward assisting them. If they desire, offer to be
a witness.
 Ways to help fight Racism

1. Racism is when someone is treated differently

because of their race or culture. It can include things
like calling people names or excluding them and
even denying them service at a business or things
like job opportunities.
If you or someone you know is experiencing racism,
you can get help to make this stop.
Ways to help fight Racism

2. DONT TAKE THE ABUSE. Everyone, no matter what

their nationality or race is, has a right to live happily and free
from discrimination. If you feel someone's being racist
towards you, Childline has information about what steps you
can take. The main thing is to walk away, keep safe and talk
to someone you trust. You don't need to retaliate or respond.
If you feel you've been discriminated against unlawfully, for
example, at work or by a business, you can find out your
rights at Citizens Advice. If you or someone you know is in
life-.threatening danger dial 999
 Ways to help fight Racism

3. Speak to your teachers, friends and/or family about

what's going on so that you can get their help and
support. If you're not sure how to start the
conversation, Childline has useful information about
how to ask an adult for help
 HOW TO EDUCATE
YOURSELF ON RACISM
Understanding why is it a problem in society

Start off by asking yourself, what is it about racism as a

structure that bothers me?
Is it inequality and injustice?
Is it being part of a society that can reduce another human
being to nothing because of their skin color or ethnicity?
Understanding why is it a problem in society

Next, start to look at and become aware of social constructs around racism (a

social construct is an idea based on shared assumptions about the way things

work, that has been accepted in a society).

Ask yourself, if these constructs are really true, how can I reject these constructs

or at least start paying attention to them in my interactions with others?

It’s important to spend time thinking about this, and having this in mind as you

move on with your journey in learning to be anti-racist.

Read books by people of color and ethnic minorities
Once you have spent time reflecting on why you want to fight
racism and how you can reject ideas around racism, you could
begin to engage with books, films, and other materials to help you
to expand your viewpoint.
There are plenty of books out there that can help you to gain a
better understanding of racism and the experiences of people who
have been targets of racism. This includes books that look at the
issue of race, white privilege, and being anti-racist. However, you
could also try reading more novels by black authors or by people
of color to get a sense of their perspective on the world
HOW TO STAND AGAINST RACISM

• Pay attention to the voices of people who experience racism

every day. Share their stories with your friends and family.

• If you see something on social media or in the newspaper that

reflects prejudice, leave a comment or write a letter to the
editor to let others know that intolerant remarks are unkind
and uncalled for.
 HOW TO STAND AGAINST RACISM

• If you overhear someone tell a racist joke, speak up and let

them know that stereotyping isn't harmless. Let your
children know they should feel free to speak up as well.
There's nothing funny about using "humor" to normalize
dangerous ideas and perpetuate ugly stereotypes

• Teach children about kindness, fairness and human rights

Systemic Racism is all around us. We are born into it. It
is deeply rooted in our culture and our communities
including our schools, the justice system, the government,
and hospitals. That is why simply being “not racist” or
saying “but I’m not racist” is not enough to eliminate
racial discrimination .
In order to eliminate racial discrimination we need to be
anti-racists and not stand for any racial discrimination.
 Equality
What is equality?
Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the
most of their lives and talents.
It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they
were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.
 Human Rights'
Human rights' are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. They

are the fundamental things that human beings need in order to flourish and participate fully in

society.

Human rights belong to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. They cannot be given away

or taken away from you by anybody – although some rights can be limited or restricted in certain

circumstances. For example, your right to liberty can be restricted if you are convicted of a crime.
 Human Rights'

Human rights are underpinned by a set of common values, including Fairness, Respect,
Equality, Dignity and Autonomy (FREDA).
There are many different human rights reflecting our basic needs across different areas of our
lives. Civil and political rights include the right to liberty and freedom of expression, while
economic, social and cultural rights include the protection of property and the right to
education. Every human right is needed to 'be human'.
 Human Rights'

The international community has agreed several key characteristics of human rights:

• Human rights are universal - they belong to everybody in the world.

• Human rights are inalienable - they cannot be taken away from people.

• Human rights are indivisible and interdependent – all the different human rights are

important for human beings to flourish and participate in society.

 References

1. https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/get-involved/teach

2. https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/tips-teach-explain-racism-to-children

3. Grade 11A Presentation about Racism

4. https://
www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/secondary-education-resources/useful-information/understan
ding-human-rights