It can be easy to say things you regret if you don’t give yourself a moment to step back and breathe.

Instead of becoming defensive, try to view the situation from a curious, compassionate standpoint. Does the other person have a valid point? How can you explore this subject and learn from it?[3] X Expert Source Jessica Elliott, ACC, CECCertified Executive Coach Expert Interview. 7 October 2021.

For instance, you can say something like: “I’m very sorry—I didn’t realize my statement sounded racist, and I didn’t mean to offend you. ”

You can say something like: “Would you mind helping me understand how my comment was hurtful? I’d like to do better in the future. ”

For example, if you tell someone that they’re frequently late to work and they respond by calling you a racist, you can know for sure that the accusation is false.

Sometimes, these accusations may happen because of miscommunication. An HR rep or manager can help iron out this conflict and reach a mutually peaceful resolution.

Racism isn’t always obvious. Many instances of racism aren’t outright attacks, but jokes and statements that support the idea that some groups of people are somehow better than others. [10] X Research source

Anti-racism refers to any person who takes an active stand to fight against racism. Individual racism occurs when people accidentally or unknowingly spread racism through their independent thoughts and beliefs. Institutional racism is racism that occurs on a larger, widespread level, like in a workplace.

For instance, a privileged person doesn’t have to worry as much about having the police called on them. The idea of tan band-aids being considered “flesh-toned” is a casual example of white privilege.

For instance, you can volunteer for some well-known anti-racist organizations, like Black Lives Matter, Black Liberation Collective, Native American Rights Fund, and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. [14] X Research source

The more time you spend learning about other people’s struggles, the less likely you’ll run into issues in future conversations.

For instance, you can say something like: “I know you didn’t mean any harm, but those kinds of statements can be pretty harmful to minority groups. ” This can be especially tricky if you’re correcting a friend or family member. In these cases, you can precede your statement with something like “I don’t view things that way,” or ask if they’re willing to consider an alternative point of view. [18] X Research source