What is racial or ethnic harassment? Racial harassment can present itself in many forms. Examples can include verbal racial abuse and name calling; printed material and literature; graffiti; physical assault; damage to property; threats and intimidation; complaints about noise; smells and uncleanliness; victimisation and bullying of children by neighbours or other children; false malicious complaints; abusive text messages or phone calls. (18) Racial harassment can consist of several incidents, or a single incident. Racial harassment can be directed at groups or individuals. Due to the widespread awareness of racial harassment, it is no longer the overt, but also the day to day subtle and none-overt actions, that really have their effects on individuals. Being ignored because of your race of color. Denied for the job or promotion or school course due to your ethnicity. Having someone hold a door for members of their own race, while they ignore you. It's being made to feel invisible, when you are clearly visible. It's the daily internalized negativity experienced by individuals due to their ethnicity. Being stopped on the street or in your car, cause you fit the ethnic description. Getting suspended from school for unfair treatment by others students, due to your ethnicity. Being made to feel your views, and issues do not have the same value as others because of your ethnicity. Being under-represented in the media, news, politics, positions of power and influence. The way you are greeted by others. The inner vs outer circle greeting. A condesending head nod, lack of eye contact or phoney smile that says you do not belong because of your ethnicity. Who racially harasses? A racial harasser can be any, race, color, age, or gender. To be considered an harasser means that you are either knowingly or unknowingly displaying behaviours, words, or actions that are racially unacceptable. Once you continue these actions to a group, or an individual you are then racially harassing that person. Types of racial harassment. Individual racism takes the form of individual attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviours. Racial prejudice, bigotry, belittling and jealousy are examples of racist attitudes. Examples of racist beliefs are racial stereotypes, the belief that some races are better than others and even the belief that people can be classified according to race in the first place. Violence, name-calling and discrimination in hiring are examples of racist behaviour. Institutional or systemic racism takes the form of the practices, customs, rules and standards of organizations, including governments, that unnecessarily disadvantage people because of their race, color or ethnicity. They do not always involve differences in treatment. Educational requirements that are not related to actual job duties are an example. Cultural racism are the cultural values and standards that disadvantage people because of their race, color or ethnicity. Examples are cultural expectations as to the race of a company president and the cultural standard for what a beautiful, trustworthy or competent person looks like. (19) Effects of racial harassment. Individuals feel angry and victimized. The harassment is internalised and can affect a victims sense of self and self-worth. It will cause some victims to change their appearance and act differently. Victims will also try to change who they are and blend in to avoid suffering daily harassment. It can have long term psychological and emotional repercussions. It causes some people to change their style of dress, just to avoid getting harassed. Living in uncertainty. Was being stopped, not hired, denied residency or denied entrance due to race or other factors? It can make you become racist towards others. Spiritually it can change your beliefs about God and the world. Lower the moral of a culture or individual. Fighting racial harassment Like other forms of harassment, it comes down to the what can I get away with factor. Here are some things that you can do to fight or bring awareness to the issue of racial harassment. Write an article of share your story of racial harassment. Stay visible, do not let the society turn you invisible. Educate yourself and those around you about overt, and none overt forms of racism. Use the laws and policies in place to fight overt racism. Fight daily racism in little ways. Don't let someone mold you into a stereo type. Continue to resist. When you see racism don't go along with it. Educate others that racism is wrong. Have open discussions about racism. Make them see you as a person, not just a race. Know your rights, and the rights of others. Don't laugh or go along with racist actions, words, behaviours. Links. 1. Ontario Human Rights Commision. -Racism and your rights. 2. New Brunswick Human Rights Commision. -Information on racism.