How do you convince someone to stop being racist?

Good luck! I've been trying my whole life, and have yet to convince anyone not to be racist. I grew up in small-town Kentucky where almost everyone around me was racist, and in fact I got called a race traitor for having friends of other races. *sighs* I still have family there that are racist, and I have yet to convince any of them not to be. I have aunts that I would prefer to never speak to again after the last time we went to visit them, and they offended me so horribly talking badly about an old high school friend of mine because he was black. I'd say no matter how close a family member someone is, you CAN ditch them if they are bad people. But that's just my opinion.

THis is so hard to do, each person has a way to think, and change it... very very hard... I think that what can I do is to twist so that these people change your attitudes...

Usually people pick that sort of thing up through there childhood from other family members. Not saying your family's racist but where on earth did it come from? Honestly I don't know what you could do. I actually know someone who is black and racist toward white people. You just have to keep pointing out that it bothers you and that if they are going to talk that way you don't want to hear it. You can't change the way she thinks but I would be afraid to be around her when she says things like that. What if someone else heard and by your association to her they think you are also?

A leopard doesn't change it's spots. There's nothing you can do or say to make her change her way of thinking. The only person that can do that is her. I do wish you luck with this situation.

Hi kylina, It is very difficult to convince someone if there mind is already made up. Maybe she will learn in time. Meanwhile try to avoid problems with her. Blessings.

We all know someone that's like that I bet. I agree with the others who have responded & said that you can't change another person's beliefs, etc. Unfortunately she sounds like a racist even though she won't admit being racist. How about telling her that you aren't comfortable with what she says? Maybe she'll see it too and will try to refrain from it when she's around you at least.

You can't convince someone not to be racist--they have to learn that for themselves. But you don't have to listen to all the racist remarks. When she starts in, just tell her you don't care to hear that type of talk. So what if she is offended? Doesn't she offend you? Don't put up with it.

like the mariah carey song "you can try but you can't take it away from her". attitudes are developed and strengthened by personal motivations and principles. and the more you fight it, the more she will be be challenged to defend herself. that's how i see it. the least that you can do is to try minimize her manifestations of hostility by patiently explaining to her that, we all have our individual diffeences and beliefs, and that we have to respect each other differences in looks and in view because that's what intelligent and cultured people do. you may say that you don't really like the way you treat these people because you think that she's being ethnocentric, but you say that you like her person and respect her as a person anyway inspite of her biases. maybe you can suggest couldn't she just try to see it like the way you see her - as being a human person having the universal striving of claiming her place under the sun. but don't force yourself to her, considering that you're so much concerned about your friendship. don't try to chnage things you can't change, learn to let go if in case she already has hardened herself to such an issue. but if ever there's a slight chance for you to persuade her in the most civil manner, then do it with courage and patience with the intention to help your friend attain extensive world views, charity and maturity in thinking.

I dont think you can. There are so many people out there these days that are racist. And i dont think theres anything that we can do to stop it. The person your talking about - i definitely think shes being racist. I have family members that often talk like that around me. And i just dont tolerate it. I dont think or feel that way and i dont want to hear about it. If someone marks a comment like that around me i simply ask them not to talk that way around me. Just try to explain to her how you feel. Let her know you dont want to hear that kind of talk. Hopefully she will respect your wishes. Good luck.

I dont think there is much you can do to change someones mind about such major issues in life, on the other hand you can tell her that it bothers you and if she can not discuss such things with you. If she cares about you like you do about her she should think about that.

ohhh! good question. i'm still working on that one. i have no idea. i (as you know) have some family members who are such racists! i tell them to be fair etc but they NEVER listen. they insist that i'm wrong about everything. it's really rather quite annoying. i'm still trying to convince them but i think they won't ever be able to change their minds *sigh* it's quite sad. i might aswell give up. it's like trying to get a deaf man to hear. i guess some people are just like that. they won't ever be able to change there minds. :(

Well in my view, their will always be someone who will talk behind another persons back so that is nothing new. About the Only advice that I could give you is to to try to keep as much distince away from her as you possibly can, if there is not other way to get around this problem, then you will have to keep a certian distance away from her so that you and your other co workers, and friends won't get hurt. You can try and try again to do whatever you can to get her to stop acting that way, but the one think that you will have to always keep in mind is that in the end, it's really up to her to decide rather or not she choses to continie to act the way that she does. And really in the end, you need to move on with your own life. I wish I know more to say to you to help you out, but that's about all I can actually think of for now. I just hope that this helps. :) Take care! :)

let her see the positive act of the people who she hates ,which is the most efficient and simple way to change her mind. good luck!

I'd just ignore her. There isn't much you can do to stop her from acting the way she does. I've got relatives I don't like for varying reasons, and when I see them, I'm pleasant but not much else happens. I tend to avoid them at all costs.