International Day Against Racism: Fighting Racism Through Awareness and Education
To foster a more inclusive and equitable world, it is crucial to understand and fight the structures that uphold racism and discrimination. The University of Mannheim actively promotes an inclusive and discrimination-free academic culture. It is also committed to raising awareness and supports initiatives that drive social change. For example, on 19 May, a Diversity Round Table will take place, open to all members of the University of Mannheim. In addition, the university offers assistance and advice to those affected through its counseling services.
Why Is It Important to Fight Racism?
Although “race” is a social construct, the impact of racism on people's lives is undeniably real. It shapes experiences, reinforces social divisions, and fosters an “us vs. them” mentality. Racism alone creates significant barriers, but when combined with discrimination based on physical impairments, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation, the effects are even more severe. These overlapping forms of discrimination intensify social exclusion and inequality. Addressing racism requires more than simply recognizing the problem—it demands a deeper understanding of the structures that allow it to persist.
Understanding Structures and Encouraging Change
To dismantle these structures, we must engage critically with our social environment. A research project led by Dr. Sandra Morgenstern at the University of Mannheim aims to explore this issue in depth. Together with doctoral students Erika Ni (University of Mannheim) and Sophie Moser (University of Konstanz), Dr. Morgenstern is investigating how fostering empathy can help individuals navigate diverse social relationships.
The research project explores how contact with people from minority groups influences the attitudes and behavior of the majority population. Two different contexts are considered: international online interactions and diversity training in organizations. The aim is to find out to what extent these encounters promote empathy, strengthen prosocial behavior and influence solidary political attitudes – and to identify the possible limits of these approaches. Initial results show that such encounters deepen understanding of different realities of life and strengthen solidarity. For example, one participant in the study emphasized the importance of lifelong learning for social perception and noted that people often hold on to beliefs they learned early in life, “especially if they were never given the opportunity to realize that this view is not correct.”
Five Anti-Racist Reading Recommendations
Getting in touch with diverse perspectives can be a powerful step to deepen one’s understanding of racism and social justice. These five books will help you expand your knowledge and may inspire you to take action:
- exit RACISM: rassismuskritisch denken lernen – Tupoka Ogette (in German)
Link to the University Library Mannheim - Critical Whiteness: Zur Psychologie hegemonialer Selbstreflexion an der Intersektion von Rassismus und Gender
Link to the University Library Mannheim - Sprache und Sein – Kübra Gümüşay (in German)
Link to the University Library Mannheim - Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural Politics – bell hooks
Link to the University Library Mannheim - Why We Matter: Das Ende der Unterdrückung – Emilia Roig (in German)
Link to the University Library Mannheim