Interrupt and Respond

In our efforts to dismantle racism, one of the most powerful actions we can take at an individual level is to interrupt and respond to racist comments. Most of us probably don’t do enough when we hear such comments because we don’t want to create tension or embarrass the other person. Or maybe we simply don’t know what to say. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture suggests the following phrases or questions to offer a new perspective:

• Seek clarity: “Tell me more about ____.”
• Offer an alternative perspective: “Have you ever considered ____.”
• Speak your truth: “I don’t see it the way you do. I see it as ____.”
• Find common ground: “We don’t agree on ____ but we can agree on ____.”
• Give yourself the time and space you need. “Could we revisit the conversation about ____ tomorrow?”
• Set boundaries. “Please do not say ____ again to me or around me.”

Even if we don’t say something in the moment, it’s often possible to circle back and revisit the situation when it feels safer. We could use a phrase like one of the following:

• “Hey, can we check in about something that happened last week?”
• “I’m sorry I didn’t address this earlier, but I’ve given it some thought and want to share this.”
• “I’ve not been able to get this off my mind. Can we have a quick chat?”

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