For Allies Against Racism: How to Advocate Effectively Online
In light of all of the recent killings of even more innocent black human beings, we find ourselves wondering how to best support the cause of Anti-Racism. How can you effectively persuade someone to change their mind without creating another enemy?
Psychology of Internet Accusations
The Backfire effect is when people become even more committed to their original position when presented with data that directly contradicts their beliefs. What might seem like a reasonable presentation of factual data may in fact be a hurting your position the most. "Deindividuation" a fancy term that just means people are more likely to engage in behavior or say things they wouldn't if they were face-to-face or not anonymous. People want to be told they are right because this is linked to our feelings of survival. Feeling right is steeped in how many people agree with us, not necessarily what data say. That's why it is important to question your motivations for "calling someone out."
Is your armchair activism or hashtag activism actually doing more harm than good?
What To Do Instead of Pointing Fingers
When you point your finger, three are pointing back at you. Take these two headlines that were written in response to George Floyd's inhumane and cruel and unlawful death:
Headline 1: "Asian Americans are Part of the Problem!"
Headline 2: "How Asian Americans Can Become Allies For Anti-Racism!"
Guess which article is more helpful with steps with how to make the world better? Guess which one I'm actually going to read? (You can substitute Asian Americans for any other group.)
I once had a white professor and one day he came into class weeping, "I'm so sorry I was born a white man! I wish...I wish I were black!" His white guilt, guess what, wasn't helping the world to become a better place. He was completely useless and continued to make racist comments he thought were woke, like "Black people can't go to college. That's unfair!" Yeah, and also completely false. He thought he was helping. He was fully aware of the guilt and his part-of-the-problem-ness. Yet, this blubbering mess of a human was not helpful in the least.
I whole-heartedly reject claims that Asian Americans including Asian Adoptees are all (or even most) on some quest for whiteness. That is simply not true. I've never been on such a quest and neither have any of my friends, adopted or otherwise. It's a nice little trite thing to say to divide the world into good and bad, white and black, but it doesn't pan out. Either we're POC or we're white or we're seeking to be white or we're just as discriminated against...all this, based on whether someone else judges us white or black based on our skin color...It's not helpful. It's really not helpful and it positions the author of such posts, who is pointing fingers, as a "good Asian" which is actually quite self-serving. You know what that first headline does do? It makes people angry enough to click the story, where, guess what? The author gets ad revenue per click.
It's also not true that most racist people are white or that most white people are racist. Ironically, it cuts out the very large proportion of non-white racists who exist. Bigotry and Racism in any form is a disease of the mind and anyone can get it. To cure these systematic problems, we need a solution of the mind. Pointing fingers, though it sounds good in the moment, might even make you feel like you're a safe, online crusader, is not helpful. It is reminiscent of those chain emails we used to get as kids (forward this email to twenty friends or else you'll die at midnight or have bad luck).
By forwarding these Blame Game posts and articles out of fear, attempting to show how good you are and how much of a hero you are, you might not be doing as much good as you think you are. It's not about YOU and your personal brand of being a freedom fighter. The focus should always be on "What will help the most? How can I help? How can we support other people who want to help?"
1. What you should do instead is share articles and posts that have a call to action, a link to a petition, ways to donate, or ways to get involved in your local community. Put your rage into the proper channels. Misdirected rage at a perceived enemy of your own creation will not solve the problem. Maybe you should take your own advice: be a part of the solution.
2. Make your message or headlines clear. Don't try to divide humanity into good and bad by their skin color, race, religion, region, etc. Instead, make a message that will be helpful and reach the most people.
3. Support communities during this time. Be available for your friends who may want to talk to you about what is going on in the world right now. Listen.
4. Talk to your family members about why this matters to you. Change often starts with you, at home, and in the community. Dismantling systemic problems can start one person at a time.
I know my list is not comprehensive, but a quick google search will yield many more actionable steps to help. The end goal is to change minds and change lives, not to make already innocent people cry when the real perpetrators are still out there.
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