When was the last instance when you heard someone at work say or do something racist? It could have been a derogatory comment based on racial stereotypes, or perhaps a more subtle situation, like witnessing a colleague being ignored or talked over.
A study conducted by fellow psychologists at Pearn Kandola revealed 52% of individuals in the UK have witnessed racist behaviour in the workplace. Most observers to racist behaviour choose not to take any action.
All of us who witness such inappropriate behaviour can be categorized as bystanders. However, the choice lies with you whether you remain a passive bystander or become an active one.
An active bystander is someone who decides to intervene when they witness inappropriate behaviour. They challenge it with the aim of preventing it from happening again.
So, to those of you who assert that you are not racist or that you actively oppose racism, I pose this question: Are you an active bystander?
