Have you ever able to turn a family member who was racist around to being more open minded?

Question

Have you ever been able to turn a family member who happened to be prejudiced/racist, around to being a little more open minded or even dispelled their racism altogether? If so how did you do so & what was your experience?

Answer 1

My dad used to casually drop racist slurs about Asians all the time. He did not even know he was doing it and when confronted, he thought it was funny and that they were 'tongue in cheek'.

I expressed my displeasure every time he did it until he finally stopped. Tackle it there and then if you think it is unacceptable.

I also challenged some of the self-opinionated beliefs he had, by asking him what factual information he was basing his comments on. I think this helped to dismantle these opinions to a degree.

Just be assertive. Tackle it in a polite manner.

I think a lot of 'racist' people are not fundamentally nasty people, but are just conditioned to act in a racist fashion.

Ironically, my dad became good friends with a Seikh guy from his work. What you then get is a kind of inverted racism, when the 'racist' makes far too much of a big deal in complimenting other races.

It's a strange one! Racism is just so embarassing (perhaps that's an understatement lol!)

Answer 2

I think I have made my parents a LITTLE bit more tolerant. Most racism comes from ignorance and I have read a fair bit about various religions. So when they don't know why one particular race/religion do a certain action, sometimes I can explain why, and they become that tiny bit more tolerant. It's not my mission or anything, but I don't like to be ignorant, so it's just a happy side effect.

Answer 3

I don't think my mom and her sisters were racist so much as they were of another generation that more freely used the "n" word. Never in front of a black person, of course, but around their family. My cousin and I spent our entire childhoods making a fuss whenever they used that word. It must have worked because I don't remember my mother ever saying it after I was 20 or so.

Answer 4

He didn't stop being prejudiced, but he learned to shut up about it.

Another one become a bit more open minded, although I wouldn't say he's turned around completely.

Answer 5

on your first answer - loosen up!!!!!! She grew to become into no longer merchandising actually violence. Geeez some human beings are so skinny skinned. I do sense like doing that to three of my stressful kin each so often yet instead I grit my teeth and positioned on a pretend smile and want them a Merry Christmas.

Answer 6

Luckily I don't have any family members who are racist, but I suspect that it would be pretty hard since old habits and prejudices are hard to get rid of.
Peace