What Can I Do?

Talking openly and honestly about issues of race and ethnicity is essential to bridging differences and opening the lines of communication across interracial, intergenerational and international barriers. To achieve this open communication, you first need to be honest with yourself. The following questions will help you begin your own journey towards peace. (After you reflect on these questions, you may want to join the dialogue happening on the Peacejourneys Web site.)

Who am I?

For me, I would classify myself as a person, as an individual, as a South African… I’m a human being. I’m a South African. (Lance)

I have three cultures. At home, it’s Lebanese, outside of home, it’s Senegalese and at school, my culture is French. (Georges)

I would not, most likely, ever marry someone who wasn’t Jewish. I want to marry someone who has experienced things that I’ve experienced that we can share together. (Jonathan)

Questions for Reflection

• What categories do I use to describe my identity – age, gender, family member, race, religion? Which categories are more or less important to me? Why?
  
  
• How much do I know about my own cultural background and heritage? Do I want to know more? Where and how can I learn more?
  
  
• How do I want to pass on my cultural heritage? How important is it for me to be married to or in a relationship with someone who is like me?
  
  

How Do We See Each Other?

I know various white people. I have white friends, and I’ll continue to have them. There are good people and bad people in every race. (Oumou)

If you don’t know someone who’s black, then you – all you have is the media – movies, TV, Whatever. (Sarah)It’s not to do with color but it’s to do with culture. I mean whites amongst white. Some whites won’t go out with other whites because the way they’ve been brought up is so different. (Helen)

Questions for Reflection

• What do I think about these quotations from the film?
  
  
• What is my first memory of knowing someone who was different from me?
  
  
• When and how did I first become aware that society contains different racial groups?
  
  
• Do the racial stereotypes in our society have an impact on how I see others?
  
  
• Do they have an impact on how other people see me?
  
  
• How much time outside of work or school do I spend with someone of a different race or ethnic group?
  
  
• Who in my circle of friends can I talk to honestly about racial issues?
  
  
• How often am I in a setting where my racial or ethnic group is in the majority?
  
  
• How does it feel to be in the majority?
  
  
• How often am I in a setting where my racial or ethnic group is in the minority?
  
  
• How does it feel to be in the minority?
  
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