How to Fight Racism in Your School

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 26, 2023 References

Racism is a really tricky issue to deal with, especially at school. There’s no magic word or phrase that will take the sting out of racist comments, but there are several steps you can take to protect yourself if you’re being victimized at school. If you’re a parent or teacher, take some time to educate and advocate for equality, so you can help make your school a healthy, happy, and engaging place for students of all racial backgrounds.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dealing with Racism as a Student

1. 1
   Stand up for yourself when you’re facing a racist bully. It can be really scary to face a bully, let alone stand up to them. Remember—you’re already leagues above your bullies, who are only fueled by insecurity and ignorance. Clearly and firmly let them know that the way they’re treating you isn’t okay, and that you aren’t going to put up with their comments and remarks.

   • For instance, you can say something like: “Stop messing with me. Don’t you have anything better to do?”
   • If you really want to hit the message home, say something like: “I’m sorry that your life is so boring that you have to be mean in order to feel good about yourself.”
   • If someone is making a racist joke, don’t be afraid to call them out on it.
2. 2
   Own all of your great qualities and be proud of who you are. It can be really hard to deal with mean, racist comments at school. Don’t let these comments get you down! Anything a racist bully has to say is completely false and irrelevant. Instead, be proud of everything that makes you special. No bully in the world can take away any of the things that make you unique and wonderful.

   • If someone makes a racist comment about your appearance, choose to be proud of that quality.
   • For instance, if a group of kids in the cafeteria tend to make racist jokes, sit at a table far away from them.
   • If you know a place where several racist bullies tend to hang out, see if you can find an alternate route.
3. 3
   Tell an adult about any racism you’ve experienced. Talk to a teacher, guidance counselor, or other trusted adult and let them know what’s been going on. Explain how the racist incidents affect your ability to focus and be happy at school. An adult will be able to offer some direct solutions, or give you some advice on how to deal with these individuals.

   • For instance, if you’re seated next to a student who makes a lot of racist comments, your teacher can switch your assigned seat.
   • If racism is a big problem for some students in your class, your teacher may be able to make a direct announcement addressing the problem.
   • Some universities offer counseling services geared towards minority groups.
4. 4
   Stand up for other students who are being targeted. Be on the lookout for signs of racism, even if it’s just in conversation. Take time to interject and stand up for the student who’s being attacked. Make it known that racism is not okay in any form, which may help convince the racist individuals to back off.

   • For example, you can say something like: “What gives you the right to say something so hateful like that? You really need to educate yourself.”
   • You can also be an ally with other simple gestures, like walking another student to class or sitting with them at lunch.
5. 5
   Join or create a multicultural club. Take time to celebrate your culture and background with other students. In this type of club, you can study the history of different minority groups, which can really help you feel rooted in your own culture. You can also share your struggles with other club members, who have likely experienced the same negative experiences that you have.

   • If your school doesn’t already have a multicultural club, talk to a teacher about starting one.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Addressing Racism as a Parent

1. 1
   Encourage your child’s teacher to discuss different cultures. Education is an invaluable tool when it comes to fighting racism. If your child is a victim of racist comments or jokes, call or email their teacher and ask them to add cultural lessons to the curriculum. If kids are encouraged to learn about different cultures, it may eliminate some prejudice in the long run.

   • For instance, you can ask your child’s teacher to hold a cultural celebration day where students can eat different foods and watch movies that focus on different cultures and minorities.
2. 2
   Ask your child’s teacher or school administration to take action against racism. Schedule a meeting with your kid’s teacher or principal and let them know about any racially-charged incidents at school. Ask the school leadership to intervene and address the problem, so there won’t be issues in the future.

   • A lot of schools have anti-bullying programs that you can use to your advantage.
3. 3
   Talk with your kids if you hear them making racist comments. Keep an open ear at home, regardless of how old or young your kids are. Children and teens may end up making hurtful comments and jokes without realizing it. In this case, sit down with your child and remind them that their words have real impact, especially when they’re directed at others.

   • If you eliminate racist language and behavior at home, you can help make the school a safer place, too.
4. 4
   Speak up at your local school board meetings. Search online to see when and where your school board meets. Make a list of talking points to bring up at the meeting, like the disproportionate funding that goes to communities of color, along with segregation that occurs on a school district level. Additionally, you can suggest that schools focus less on policing and more on offering other services, like school psychologists and nurses.

   • Studies show that over 1 million students in America go to schools with law enforcement officers but without a nurse, and 6 million students attend schools with police officers and no psychologists.
5. 5
   Educate your children about the importance of anti-racism. Racism can be a tricky topic to go over with your kids, but it’s a very worthwhile conversation to have. If you have young kids at home, try to touch on the topic of racism in a simple, open manner. Give your kids plenty of opportunities to ask questions about racism in the world, and try to answer these queries to the best of your ability.

   • When it comes to kids, honesty is the best policy. While you don’t need to go into any graphic details, you can still present the injustices of racism at home.
   • You can describe what stereotypes are to your children, and explain why they’re harmful to other people.
   • As your kids get older, try to keep them engaged with what’s going on in the world. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, like “What are your thoughts on this?” or “Does this seem fair?”
   • For instance, you can read books that discuss anti-racism to your children.
6. 6
   File a complaint with the police if the school doesn’t address the bullying. Keep in mind that racist remarks are considered a crime in many places, even if they’re made off-hand in a school environment. If your kid’s teacher or school administration don’t do anything to improve the situation, you can report the incidents to local law enforcement.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Protesting Racism as an Educator

1. 1
   Believe students when they report racist incidents. Give all kids the benefit of the doubt, especially if they’re bringing a racist incident to your attention. If you brush racist remarks and conversations under the rug, you’re indirectly supporting the racist individuals by not calling them out. Take every report and conversation seriously, and make an effort to follow up and discipline any racist offenders at your school.

   • If minority students feel like their teachers don’t care about their negative experiences, they may not share what’s going on at all.
2. 2
   Train teachers to focus on diverse, culturally relevant topics. Encourage educators to use a wide variety of planning resources, especially ones that focus on diversity in the classroom. Additionally, invite other teachers to sign up for seminars or conferences that focus on diversity and cultural celebration within education.

   • For instance, Rethinking Schools and Teaching Tolerance are great resources to consider.
   • For example, you can create a lesson that focuses on voting rights in the middle of a crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. 3
   Encourage anti-racism in your lesson plans. Include valuable, anti-racist tidbits in your curriculum by discussing prominent civil rights leaders, activists, and other people who went above and beyond to fight for equality. Remind your students how ugly and brutal racism was in historical times, and how racism continues to be an issue in more subtle ways.

   • For instance, you can center your lessons around the American Civil Rights movement.
   • Start discussions with some open-ended but pointed questions, like: “What causes minority groups in our country?”; “Do you think minority groups are encouraged to embrace their culture in public?”; and “Why is it important for people to embrace their cultural identity?”
   • Anti-racism is the movement to actively fight against racism in society.
4. 4
   Start a discussion about minority groups in your school community. Don’t turn racism into a taboo, off-limits topic—instead, give your students plenty of time to discuss and ask informed questions about the society they live in. If you’re working with younger groups, help them understand what minority groups are, and what kinds of prejudice these groups face on a regular basis.

   • For instance, you can point out how African Americans and Latinos are 2 examples of minority groups in America.
5. 5
   Create lessons that specifically cover racially-charged conflicts. It’s not an easy conversation to have, but it’s important to teach kids that racial conflicts can and do happen. Take time to discuss why these issues occur, and how students can be a part of the solution. Look for teaching materials that are targeted towards younger age groups, which can help you plan out and better manage the discussion.

   • For instance, Flocabulary’s The Week In Rap and Time for Kids are great materials to consult as you plan your lesson.
6. 6
   Check your disciplinary practices for a racial basis. Keep in mind that many teachers and administrators incorporate a racial basis when it comes to discipline, like suspensions or expulsions. Take a step back so you can really acknowledge your bias, which can prevent it from having a negative impact on students in the future.

   • For instance, studies show that black girls are more likely to be suspended than girls from other backgrounds.

Community Q&A

• Question

  I am a Native American girl, and someone called me a savage at school. What do I do?

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and let the person know that their comment was hurtful and offensive. If they still continue their racist behavior, report them to a trusted adult, like a teacher or counselor.
• Question

  My school makes me feel bad about myself because of my race. What do I do?

  Community Answer

  Complain to a guidance counselor or the principal. Tell them exactly why you feel the way you do. If these people won't listen to you, ask a parent to call the school. If you're being discriminated against and no one will help you, contact the ACLU.
• Question

  I'm in sixth grade, and my best friend is the only black student in the school. Some kids call her the n-word. One told her to go "pick cotton." The teachers do nothing about it. How can I help?

  Community Answer

  I'm glad you know how wrong this behavior is. If you hear something like this being said, tell the person that they're ignorant and offensive and they need to stop. Raise your voice if you need to, as that might cause the bully to feel embarrassed. If you've tried talking to teachers and they're not helping, go above their head to the principal, or ask your parents to call the school and complain.

See more answers

Tips

• Outreach can play a big part in shutting up racist bullies at your school. Think about starting a blog or writing a letter to your local newspaper to draw more attention to the issue.
• Avoid places and people where the racist bullying occurs the most. If possible, try to plan ahead and see if you can separate yourself from potentially uncomfortable situations ahead of time.
• Kids who study other languages are more likely to be tolerant.

Warnings

• Don’t minimize movements that are designed to uplift minorities. For instance, saying “all lives matter” in response to someone saying “black lives matter” really minimizes the struggles that the black community is going through.