Whats the difference between racism and prejudice?
Racism is a system of advantage based on race. And you have to ask yourself, who is advantaged by this system, and who is disadvantaged? In the U.S., it’s the white people who are advantaged. I’m not saying that all white people are actively racist. The question is, are you actively anti-racist? There’s no such thing as being passively anti-racist. We’re all prejudiced. We all have misinformation about people different and like ourselves, and we’re all exposed to stereotypes. Prejudice is like smog: no one says, “I’m a smog-breather”, but if you live in a smoggy place, it’s hard to avoid breathing it. When I hear someone say, “There’s not a prejudiced bone in my body,” I say, look again. Because there are bones in there that you may not want, but they’re there. Q: You mentioned in a speech that critical thinking is the key to interrupting the cycle of racism. How can parents and teachers encourage kids to think critically about stereotypes? A: Ask them questions, and encourage them to
