The University of Denver Magazine asked Reggie Byron, director of DU’s Critical Race and Ethnic Studies program, a question that empowers everyone: What can DU students, faculty and staff do to chip away at institutional inequality?
Read widely and educate yourself on the scope of the problem.
Become more racially conscious by learning about the nature and complexity of the issue, talking with others about it and being open to other perspectives.
Examine your own privilege, read up on how to be a good ally and put that knowledge into practice.
Being an ally doesn’t only mean to stand beside someone. If someone is carrying a burden, you must carry some of that weight too. Standing beside them is not enough. For more information, check out this guide to allyship.
Become an informed voter and vote in all eligible elections.
It sounds so common, but it’s of the utmost importance to vote for local and national politicians who want to make meaningful changes to legislation and fix the loopholes that allow inequality to persist.
Volunteer time or donate money to justice-oriented nonprofits.
Websites like https://www.volunteermatch.org/ will allow you to choose from a host of nonprofits that match your areas of interest.
Interrogate the policies and structures within your educational/workplace organization.
This is especially important for people in positions of power. They may not “change the world” per se but can make incremental change that will have long-term effects for everybody who’s in that position or in other roles throughout the organization.
Join a letter writing campaign, organize coalitions, or initiate other forms of collective action to usher change within institutions that you have access to.
Think about how you can make changes—big and small—in the places you already are or have access to, such as your local school board, your homeowners association, your neighborhood association, or your school or workplace.
