OUGD505 Studio Brief 02 - How to deal with racist people (Research)

How to deal with racist people (Research):
Based on feedback I have received it was felt that informing people how to stand up against racists and report hate crime was the most important message. Therefore I have done some research into the most appropriate methods.

Find the courage:
The first barrier to overcome in these situations is the “bystander effect,” which states that the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely any single individual will help. This is because there is a diffusion of responsibility: the bigger the group, the stronger the feeling that surely someone else will step up to help. Or, put another way, the bigger the group, the more likely an individual can say, “If others aren’t helping, I shouldn’t either.”

The presence of a camera has been shown to spur some to feel more responsibility to help. The best way, however, is to acknowledge and confront the “bystander effect” head on—most people won’t do anything unless someone finds the courage to act first. You can be that person.

Do it right:
- Safety First. It is not selfish to think about your own safety first. If this is a violent racial attack, find a safe spot and then call for help.

- Stay calm. The person you are confronting might perceive your anger as a threat and could react violently.

- Engage the good side. Engage with their sense of community: “Has this person done any harm to you, personally?” Engage with their emotions: “Would you like it if someone abused you or your family in this way?”

- Speak only from your own perspective. Too often people start speaking for the person who is being attacked. This stops the victim from speaking up, who is likely to do so if he or she finds support from bystanders. For instance, if a person is being abused for wearing a hijab, don’t say that the victim does so because of her religion. Instead, speak about how people have the freedom to choose how they dress.

- Ask others to help. In most situations, you are likely to outnumber the attacker.

- Use your camera. Racial attacks are a criminal offence in most countries. If you don’t feel comfortable engaging directly, you can record the event on your phone. This could be vital evidence to punish the perpetrator in the future.

Then what?:
- Move away. If the attacker is still nearby, ask the victim if it would be okay to take them away from the spot.

- Offer support. You’ve made it clear you’re on the victim’s side, but ask what else there is you can do to help.

- Report the event. Most countries have helplines that deal with racial abuse cases. Take the time to report the event. If you have camera footage, share that with the authorities.

https://qz.com/719779/how-to-intervene-in-a-racist-attack/ (Written by Akshat Rathi)