Dear How Do I Respond To Such Racist Statements
Dear M,
I don’t like it when I hear other older people saying that they can’t trust their Certified Nursing Assistants or Home Health Aides. I have had several women assisting me for the past few years and I can’t imagine one of them doing something that could be harmful to me or possibly taking something from me.
I can’t help but wonder if I am correct thinking that this is racist. All of their CNAs and HHAs are women or men of color. How do I respond to such racist statements?
Dear How Do I Respond To Such Racist Statements,
You could start by doing your best to take a breath and inquire. Do so in a less than accusatory manner. Ask them what they meant by it? What was their intention? Rather than be harsh, you will probably get further if you educate them. How about saying that it is important for all of us to think about what we have said. Where did such a thought come from? Have the person ask themselves the following:
Why am I so distrustful? Why do I feel that this person of color is going to take an item from me? What has been my experience in life? As a child? In school or at work? In later life? Do I have a voice in my head from the past? A vision? Have I ever spent time with people of color? Is there a fear of the unknown?
This type of conversation may provide both people with information that may never have come up nor been reviewed. It is possible that you are the first person who has kindly “called them out” on what they said. It may have come out of their mouth without a filter. This filter should be put in place if it does not exist. Possibly, after this conversation, they will better understand why this type of statement is unacceptable. Then, it may be that you can say “we” rather than “other.” Make sense?
