Anti-racist activism in the U.S. dates back to the early 1800s when abolitionists first mobilized for the liberation of slaves. So, how did the abolitionists campaign? They wrote, they spoke and they rallied, to name but a few of their tactics.
It’s hard to believe, but many of the methods abolitionists used to battle racism still apply two centuries later. Interested in joining the distinguished Americans who’ve fought against racial inequality?
Get started by choosing from an array of strategies.
Writing surfaced early on as one of the anti-racist movement’s best weapons. People simply won’t rally for a cause they know nothing about. So, if you want to be an anti-racist activist, get the word out about racism.
Say a business in your community treats patrons of color shabbily or outright refuses to serve them. What do you do? Write letters to the editors of local newspapers. Not only might they publish them, they might also allow you to write a guest column on the issue. But don’t stop there. Write to the legislators in your community—the city council, the mayor, congress people.
Additionally, the Internet allows you to make everyone on the planet aware of racial injustice. Write a blog or a set up a website about the bigotry you encounter and before long, you’ll be far from the only one concerned about the problem.
Don’t Fight Alone: Join an Anti-Racist Group
Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t act alone to obtain civil rights for all Americans, and neither should you. A number of anti-racist groups have long fought against inequity. They include Anti-Racist Action, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Find the chapter of such groups nearest to you and get involved. They might need you to fundraise, recruit and lead workshops, among other activities. Even if you end up doing something as mundane as making the staff coffee, teaming up with an anti-racist group will likely give you an insider’s view on how to act
