Demetrio Tripodi – ESC volunteer from Italy took part in the course “Make it visible! Working with young people against (invisible) racism”, organized by the Cazalla Intercultural and would like to share his final report with us!

The course “Make it visible! Working with young people against (invisible) racism”, organized by the Cazalla Intercultural, it has been very useful in understanding aspects on which too little attention is often paid.
One of the initial concepts is the difference between stereotype and prejudice. The first is formed by beliefs about a particular group of people, a culture etc. etc. The second is an incorrect judgment built on the basis of personal stereotypes.
These two elements create racism.
The concept of “Pyramid of hate” is important for understanding how different situations are categorized according to their culture and the place where a person lives. Racism is in fact judged differently based on the country in which you live.
On the tip of the pyramid we find the criminal acts, in the middle racism and at the base, in the most hidden part, there is invisible racism.

Invisible racism is often accepted thanks to its characteristics, such as being normalized, ambiguous, and also because it does not seem to have serious consequences.
In reality, this type of racism leads the subjects who suffer it to have very serious psychological consequences, even risking to ruin the lives of these people.
Other aspects that should be addressed in the antiracist work are certainly the hate speech (live or online) and the antiracism policies, indispensable for the correct construction of projects and activities.
Among the activities that STAR: Stand Together Against Racism has put in place, there are: Peer education, Community work, Working with excluded young people and finally the Good Treatment. All very important methodologies for improving the inclusion and collaboration between children and people of different ethnicities, cultures, of different sexual and religious genres.
Reflecting on what racism is and how to fight it requires, first of all, a reflection on oneself and one’s beliefs. Only by eliminating one’s stereotypes and prejudices can one start to face racism and the obstacles it creates to a civil coexistence among peoples.

It is important to recognize the reasons for racism, its short and long-term consequences for individuals, groups and society in general. There is a need to set goals and choose the right methods to achieve them. Collaboration between different people who fight for their rights is the most powerful weapon that each individual has at his disposal to achieve freedom in all its forms as much as possible.