What is Racial Harassment

Racial harassment is unwanted behaviour, speech, written or pictures directed at someone because of their race, colour or nationality. It is about intimidation, control, misuse of power and the attempt to deny equality. It can be blatant, or subtle, one incident or a pattern.

It does not matter if the person who is doing the harassment says he or she was only kidding or just having fun. If his or her behaviour hurts someone, it is wrong.

Remember if it makes someone feel bad, it is wrong.

Examples of racial harassment could be

• Name calling

• Slurs that are racial, or ethnic in nature or based on stereotypes

• Jokes that are racial, or ethnic in nature

• Graffitti which is racial or ethnic in nature

• Turning discussions to ethnic or nationality, using innuendoes or stories

• Vandalism

• Damage to your property

• Unwanted letters or telephone calls

• Materials of a racist nature

• Displaying or distributing drawings that are racially or ethnically demeaning or predicated on racial or ethnic sterotypes

• Telling lies or spreading rumors that are based on racial or ethnic sterotypes

• Making racist gestures with hands or through body movements

• Staring at someone in an intimidating or demeaning manner because of their race or colour