Now, to prevent prejudice, you must start by dealing with your own prejudice and setting a good example to others. You must learn to abide by that most challenging command of Christ to his followers:
“Love one another as I have loved you”
Try to have a wide variety of friends, from all races and religions – this will show others that you are not prejudice. Don’t ever accept racism or racist jokes and stand up for those who are suffering from prejudice. When you have dealt with your own prejudice, encourage others to do the same.
Christians can pray. Praying can help raise awareness in your home, school, church, workplace etc – you can hold a prayer vigil for racial, sexual and religious injustices. If you can, get permission to hold a prayer group in at the workplace or in school and try to influence others to prevent prejudice.
Get involved in the CARJ (the Catholic Association for Racial Justice) – which exists to support, encourage and apply race awareness and education in accordance to the teachings of Christ. Join CARJ and be a voice for racial injustice.
SPEAK OUT! Wherever you are, be a voice for injustice. If you see an incident occurring, phone the police, get involved. You may ask yourself: “Where do I speak out, the workplace, my home, the church?” Wherever racism is, as Christians, we have a duty to confront and prevent it. If people do not do this then those injustices will never stop and Prejudice and discrimination will not end, our children will have to bear the brunt of this injustice for years to come.
Community activities would be a great way of bringing children from all races and religions together. It would help the children mix and befriend others from different backgrounds while doing fun, social, and religious team-working activities.
We can try to end prejudice and discrimination in our communities by encouraging our schools and churches to embrace other cultures and religions. This could be by organising trips to other places of worship (e.g. synagogue), learning about their different cultures, traditions and opening up the doors of our churches so they can visit, observe and learn about our faith.
The Christian way of life leads us to try and end prejudice in our community, we have a moral duty to do this. Some Christians on the other hand don’t want to – they’re content with how things are and won’t lift a finger to help. This is unacceptable, we all should do something, however big or small, to make our world a safer place.
