The Six Stages of Understanding and Dealing with Racism (+ve and -ve axis) are as follows:
Stage – 6: Extremists/leadership
Strong racist views and work to champion them to others and recruit others to join them.
Stage – 5: Entrenched views and behaviours
Exhibit strong racist views and enjoy sharing them with others.
Stage – 4: Anger and blaming of ethnic minorities
Likely to attack and reject the views of those who are different. Extreme ways of thinking and behaving.
Stage – 3: Attacking and rejecting
Resenting time spent on race, display of outrage whilst projecting one’s own racism onto others
Stage – 2: Dismissive and avoidant
Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
Stage – 1: Unaware, silence and denial
Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
Stage + 1: Unaware, silence and denial
Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
Stage + 2: Dismissive and avoidant
Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
Stage + 3: Becoming aware of issues of race
Becoming more aware of differences and racism, and questioning. Recognise inequity and racism but do not understand why or what they can do about it.
Stage + 4: Open to learning
Open to learning and having meaningful conversations- challenging one’s perceptions
Stage + 5: Ability to see the bigger picture
Ability to reflect and genuinely engage. Starting to see the bigger picture around race- paradigm shift
Stage + 6: Leadership qualities
Ability to take on a leadership role in promoting racial equity and social justice. Joining with others for the greater good and for the sake of Humanity.
