Key Concepts

The Six Stages Conceptual Framework

Key principles of the framework:

  • Supporting individuals to understand and challenge racism
  • Exploring and identifying beliefs, values and behaviours of individuals and organizations
  • Appreciating that racism exists in all racial groups and at different levels
  • Understanding basic survival instincts and challenging one’s own prejudice
  • Exploring Steps for Coming out of Caves of Privilege-Cultural or Racial
  • Understanding that the first step for change starts with the self
  • Building Bridges of Empathy
  • Beyond Unconscious Bias
  • Understanding the role of Emotional Intelligence in DEI

 

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.