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    can anyone describe to me how to challenge discrimination in a way that will promote change?

    +7  Views: 14840 Answers: 17 Posted: 13 years ago

    17 Answers

    I agree with itsmee regarding this question. I have found the following to be a statement that is comfortable for me with regards to the professional way to approach this issue.

    "Always challenge discrimmination. Do it in a calm and professional way and tell the individual that what they are saying is unacceptable. You can also say that you are upset and offended by discriminatory words and actions. Also, that it is unlawful."


    "speak softly but carry a big stick" Good Luck. I have respect for people who work for change.

    The two answers are very good advice.  It's been awhile since this question was asked and I hope the situation has been resolved to your satisfaction.  I would add this suggestion....
    In my experience, I have learned that if I want to change something, I can't just complain about it. I need to  Come Up With A Viable Solution (as in "this is how we change it and why it will work"), or a plan for coming up with a solution. (as in forming a committee and delegating specific focus and deadline).
    I didn't like a tedious procedure at my workplace and complained about it to my boss.  He told me to figure out a better way.  I went to all the people who were affected by the procedure and found out what, if anything, their needs were.  I thought about ways to acomplish the desired results, what could be eliminated from what we were doing, and how to streamline what we had to keep doing (carbonless copies were helpful vs. using the copier).
    The day came when I went to the boss with my research and suggestions.  He reviewed my work and a few days later called me into his office.  He'd made a few alterations to my plans, and told me to take my plans to the DP department.  Norm was waiting for me to give him the info so he could implement my suggestions into a program for our office. 
    It was so successful that it was extended to other aspects of our office, modified for the particular needs of those jobs.  To this day, I never complain without having an idea for improving the situation I don't like.  (Well, almost never)


     

    robertgrist

    Excellent Bob!

    I am going to nominate this question to the akaQA's Hall of Fame.  What a great question!  This is probably the most viewed question at akaQA, yet in proportion, the least answered one.  Khali, you HAVE wisdom.


    There are only 7 brave souls who attempted to answer this question.  A big ovation to the following:


    Umbriel, 6dogs, itsmee, Bob/PKB, robertgrist, doolittle, and last but not least, nomdeplume.


    To answer your question, I'll just give you some visual effects.  Hopefully they help:


    ""


     


     

    hector5559

    They all look very similar to me,Chiangmai,

    Read about Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Ghandi

    Challenge discrimination…How would you feel about that applied to yourself? Turning a personal attack back on its originator nullifies the source.

    About 20 years ago a young black guy in England named Stephen Lawerence was murdered. The attitude of the police was described as' Institutionalised Racism' It took until a few days ago to bring his assailants to justice, but the result has been to change attitudes both on the part of the police and the public though there is still a way to go. So you can say that Stephen Lawrence challenged discrimination. It is a tragedy that he died to do so.

    Poppy3

    nomdeplume - yes still a long way to go - regretably - this seems to be so innate and it is not white against black only - it can be black against white. Equal opportunities - if you are white here quite often you would be terrified of saying even the truest of things to a black person - the tribunal would destroy you but when it happens the other way it is a different outcome - maybe not the Police but other institutions will favour the black person due to legislation which is not so strong for a white person.

    Chiangmai - your visual effects are most useful. These are the areas which need to be addressed to stop discrimination and prejudice. Things would improve so much if we realized we are all in the same boat regardless of our beliefs and less projection of individual beliefs and a realization that we are all here to help each other for the common good. Who needs all the competition just get on as human beings .I realize that this is fundamental but even this does not occur in today's society which is so needy of unification. And YES I can hear you - naive, naive but I believe this to be possible.   

    Poppy3

    suffice it to say we are all different in character, feelings, longings and way of life etc. without the added pressure of adding predudice to the equation and although it may sound trite more understanding of the human condition and communication and better use of intelectual abilities is needed here.

    i think everyone has said what most people would say,,i do not have all the fancy words you guys have,,but i think discrimination will die 10 minutes after the last human does,,people will always have differences and while ever people dont agree with each other,,there will always be discrimination,,however there is always a chance to alter something,,if people are prepared to sit down and peacefully converse with each other,,i hope my bit is worth something,,,,,,always nice talking,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    hector5559

    Well said Terry,

    Try for an Industrial Triburnal,a Union may help you to get this if you are  in one,

    A wonderful question that no one will ever have an answer too. Discrimination is evil only if turned against a group of people which causes them to suffer physical, financial, or the loss of freedom. I have never done any of the above solely because of ethnicity, but there are people/groups that I can not and have no desire to relate too. What does this make me? You can not legislate love. So far as I can see we can still hate who we choose too.

    Be the change that you want to see.


    Forgive people that don't understand what you do or why you do it.


     

    Organize a sit-in, check out WIKI for ideas:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sit-in

    i have discovered that when people work on a common goal prejudging disolves. if ufo's came down today, discrimination towards other humans would disappear, because we would be so busy trying to figure out how to keep the aliens off our backs.  Discrimination has a FUNCTION.  It's function is to seperate.  Seperation makes it easier for one person to take advantage of another.  However, when we discover discrimination in your path, if you have the spirit, health and state of mind, you should say or do something.  Ask the person a question, talk to your supervisor.  You have to do something!!  If not for yourself for the many others that will come behind you.  If rosa parks had not refused to sit on the back of the bus, black people would still be there.  if black people would not have challenged 'for white only'  toilets, drinking fountains, places to eat, they would still be second class citizens.  once upon a time black men could not play football with white men because of discrimination and prejudice.  Many white people with insite and integrity fought discrimination in their own way and helped blacks learn to read and get out of slavery.  if there courageous souls would have ignored the discrimination where would our society be today.  no black football players etc.  speak up speak out.  discrimination needs to become a thing of the pass.  i think its gonna take ufo intervention for total eradication of discrimination, if we don't do it ourselves when we see it. I like what others on this site have said, fight it in a professional way.

    ed shank

    Speaking up can be lethal. Who wants to be a martyr? Rosa Parks was an exceptional human being, who I assume reached a boiling point and stood her ground, and the rest is history. I met Mrs. Parks on several occasions. An inspiration to all who have ever spoken with her. Racism is a disease in this country, whites see the negative aspect of black culture, and if you think there isn't a cultural difference between blacks and whites, you've got your head stuck in the mud. Blacks play the race game with the same zeal as whites, perhaps more so. Until this 160 year ago slavery issue can be put to sleep. No one will sleep soundly.
    tabber

    Wow ed. You made some really good points. This could be a discussion til the end of time regarding how to get rid of discrimination. In a way you can't get rid of it like Umbriel indication, because we use discrimination in everything we do. But things are a little better between blacks and whites. But maybe new discrimination is popping up around the world because its so many different cultures moving into so many people's neighborhoods. And some folks do not like new things or new people. Even some of the new people moving in are a little prejudice sometimes. Facinating stuff.

    To fight it begin with non violence, make yourself heard by the government and create a non violent movement. One thing NEVER GIVE UP

    At the Liberation celebrations in Paris in 1945, black American soldiers were not allowed to take part even though they were involved in the D-Day landings. Perverse considering one of the major factors in WW2 was racism.

    hector5559

    A good lesson to remember,norm.our friends the Americans,were not that good at equal rights at that time,have things inprove what happen to the special relationship,of all that Obama is always on about,

    Get as much publicity as you can....internet, media, lawsuit...



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