Breaking the Cycle of Hate: A First-Person Guide for Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Understanding

As an adult navigating the complex landscape of our society and the political climate of our country, it becomes increasingly evident that prejudice and hate can create deep divides among individuals and communities. It is crucial to arm ourselves with the right tools to combat these destructive forces and pave the way for a more inclusive and understanding world. In this guide, I'll share practical strategies and resources to help you promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and understanding in your day-to-day life.

Understanding the Importance of Combatting Prejudice

Prejudice is like a dark cloud that hovers over our interactions, perpetuating stereotypes and hindering the growth of meaningful relationships. Acknowledging the detrimental impact of prejudice is the first step towards combating it. By cultivating awareness and recognizing our own biases, we can take proactive measures to break the cycle of hate.

These measures begin at a personal level, and must begin at home- know where you came from, and celebrate your heritage, sharing it with others. Include extended family in these gatherings, and encourage storytelling and sharing personal experiences across generations. Invite people into your life from different backgrounds to your own as well, so you can share your culture with each other.

Embrace Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is not just a buzzword; it is a celebration of the unique qualities that each individual brings to the table. Embracing diversity involves actively seeking out perspectives different from our own and creating environments where everyone feels valued and heard. Inclusion goes hand in hand with diversity, ensuring that all voices are given equal weight and consideration.

Tools for Promoting Equity

Equity is the cornerstone of a just society. It involves recognizing and addressing systemic injustices that perpetuate inequality. As adults, we can leverage our positions to advocate for policies and practices that promote fairness and equal opportunities for all. By championing equity, we can dismantle the barriers that prevent marginalized groups from thriving.

Combatting Prejudice in Everyday Interactions

Breaking the cycle of hate starts with our everyday interactions. Simple acts of kindness, empathy, and respect can go a long way in fostering understanding and dismantling prejudice. Engage in meaningful conversations with those who hold different perspectives, challenge stereotypes when you encounter them, and be an ally for those who face discrimination.

Be mindful of the words you use, and avoid remarks that stereotype certain individuals or cultures, and challenge comments made by others. Speak out against jokes and slurs that target them- silence is tacit agreement, and not laughing isn't enough.

It is also important to provide accurate information about cultures when we are trying to educate others about harmful myths and stereotypes- so start by educating yourself, and your family. Discuss as a group the impact that these comments and behaviors have on the people targeted by them. In that same line, plan family outings to diverse areas in your own community, and visit important landmarks, museums and art galleries that celebrate expressions from different cultures.

You can also research your own family tree and trace your ancestors' involvement in the struggle for civil and human rights, or the immigration experience, and identify positive role models. Share these stories with your friends and family, and encourage others to do the same.

At work, become aware and respectful of individual work styles and differences in culture. Create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their diversity with you. Learn about their backgrounds and share your own, ask questions that invite for explanation, and do the same when they ask. Showing respect and genuine care for others' cultures helps us understand and connect with them better.

Responding to Incidents of Hate and Bigotry

It is important to acknowledge the emotional toll of hate and bigotry incidents on targeted individuals and their communities. Remaining silent in such situations can also make a community member vulnerable. When a group faces an attack, it is a reminder of our collective responsibility to support and stand up for those who are vulnerable.

Here are some specific suggestions that might help facilitate a fast and effective response:

• Notify law enforcement when appropriate, and make sure you have all the facts. If there's physical damage, take pictures. If you notice that hate literature has been distributed, collect them for evidence. If the incident happened at a school, work with the administration to determine appropriate disciplinary actions.

• Reach out to the victims and reassure them and their families that they have your support and the incident will be treated seriously. Provide referrals to community organizations that offer counsel and support services in these situations

• Once the damage has been seen by the appropriate authorities, and they've given permission to do so, offer assistance in repairing or cleaning up the damaged or vandalized property.

Resources for Continued Learning

To deepen your understanding and commitment to combating prejudice, there are numerous resources available. Books, documentaries, online courses, and workshops can provide valuable insights and practical strategies for promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and understanding. Take the initiative to educate yourself and stay informed on issues related to social justice and equality.

Here's a list of children's books, in alphabetical order:

• A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams

• A Level Playing Field, by Evaleen Hu

• Abuela, by Arthur Dorros

• Abuela's Weave, by Omar S. Castaneda

• All Kinds of Families, by Norma Simon

• All the Colors We Are, by Katie Kissinger

• Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman

• Arnie and the New Kid, by Nancy I. Carlson

• Ashok By Any Other Name, by Sandra S. Yamate

• Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky, by Faith Ringgold

• Bajo La Luna de Limon, by Edith Hope Fine

• Baseball Saved Us, by Ken Mochizuki

• Battlefields and Burial Grounds, by Roger C. Echo-Hawk

• Behind the Secret Window, by Nelly S. Toll

• Bein' With You This Way, by W. Nikola-Lisa

• Black is Brown is Tan, by Arnold Adoff

• Calling the Doves, by Juan Felipe Herrera

• Celebrating Chinese New Year, and Celebrating Kwanzaa, both by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

• Chernowitz!, by Fran Arrick

• Chicken Sunday, by Patricia Polacco

• Child of the Warsaw Ghetto, by David A. Adler

• Children of Asian America, by the Asian American Coalition staff

• Clambake, by Russel M. Peters

• Daniel's Story, by Carol Matas

• Dragonwings, by Lawrence Yep

• Everybody Bakes Bread, by Norah Donley

• Families, by Aylette Jenness

• Felita, by Nicholasa Mohr

• Fly!, by Christopher Myers

• Frozen Noses, by Jan Carr

• Goin' Someplace Special, by Patricia C. McKissack

• Going Home, by Nicholasa Mohr

• Grandmother's Dreamcatcher, by Becky Ray McCain

• Hat's off to Hair!, by Virginia I. Kroll

• Hop Jump, by Ellen Stoll Walsh

• I Love My Hair, by Natasha A. Tarpley

• I'm Like You You're Like me, by Cindy Gainer

• Jefferson's Children, by Shannon Lanier

• Journey Home, by Yoshiko Uchida

• Mr. Lincoln's Way, by Patricia Polacco

• My Two Uncles, by Judith Vigna

• Parrot in the Oven, by Victor Martinez

• Peace Tales, by Margaret Read MacDonald

• People, by Peter Spier

• Ramadan, by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi

• Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr

• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, by Deborah Hopkinson

• Terrible Things, by Eve Bunting

• The Christmas Menorahs, by Janice Cohn

• The Land, by Mildred D. Taylor

• The Rag Coat, by Lauren A. Mills

• The Trail of Tears, by Joseph Bruchac

• Voices From the Fields, by S. Beth Atkin

• White Socks Only, by Evelyn Coleman

• Who Belongs Here?, by Margy Burns Knight

• Yoko, by Rosemary Wells

• Zebra and Other Stories, by Chaim Potok

And a list of books for adults, in alphabetical order:

• A Season on the Reservation, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• A White Teacher Talks About Race, by Julie Landsman

• Afraid of the Dark, by Jim Myers

• Always Kiss Me Goodnight, by J.S, Salt

• Americanos, by Edward James Olmos

• An Introduction to Multicultural Education, by James A. Banks

• Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

• Anne Frank Remembered, by Miep Gies

• Bullies and Victims, by Suellen Fried

• Children Learn What They Live, by Dorothy Law Nolte

• Civil Rights, by Eileen Lucas

• Common Ground, by Andrew M. Greeley

• Crossing the Color Line, by Maureen T. Reddy

• Diversity in Action, by Lisa Bigman

• Everyday Acts Against Racism, by Maureen T. Reddy

• Everything You Need to Know About Bias Incidents, by Kevin Osborn

• Everything You Need to Know About Discrimination, by Ezra Palmer

• Hate Crimes, by James B. Jacobs

• Hate Is My Neighbor, by Tom Alibrandi

• How Race is Lived In America, by New York Times Writers

• How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Faber

• Is It A Choice?, by Eric Marcus

• Islam and The West, by Bernard W. Lewis

• It's The Little Things, by Lena Williams

• Japanese-American Internment, by David K. Fremon

• Love Makes a Family, by Gigi Kaeser

• Night, by Elie Wiesel

• Prejudice, by Daphne Muse

• Setting Them Straight, by Betty Berson

• The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

• The Measure of Our Success, by Marian Wright Edelman

• The Sweeter The Juice, by Shirlee Taylor Haizlip

• The Velveteen Father, by Jesse Green

• There Are No Children Here, by Alex Kotlowitz

• Up To The Plate, by Margot Fortunato Galt

• Uprooting Racism, by Paul Kivel

• Walking on Water, by Randall Kenan

• Walking With the Wind, by John Lewis

• Yell-Oh Girls, by Vickie Nam

• Zlata's Diary, by Zlata Filipovic

(NOTE- This is by no means a complete list of books to read- just a start. List taken from the booklet "101 ways to combat prejudice" by Barnes & Noble and the Anti-Defamation League)

As adults, we have a responsibility to combat prejudice and break the cycle of hate for the sake of future generations. By actively promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and understanding, we can create a more harmonious and compassionate society. Let us commit to using the tools at our disposal to build bridges, foster empathy, and cultivate a culture of acceptance and respect for all.

Let's work together to dismantle prejudice and embrace a future founded on principles of unity and equality.