Gabrielle Wonnell
Aug 8, 2017 · 1 min read

So I am on board with most of this and am already actively doing it. What I am not on board with is the suggestion about how to call out racist family members. I absolutely agree that the racism/homophobia/sexism/Islamophobia of my relatives MUST be called out in the moment. I did it so much when my teenage nieces were itty bitty that it has never been an issue around my own young children more than a decade later. My relatives don’t share my love of diversity, but they do respect the boundary I’ve set. And if I had pointed and shouted “Racists!” well, I would have lost something that does matter. I realize not every family may get to this place. Do what’s right for you. But I have to advocate the building of bridges with and modeling inclusive behavior for all people. You never know at what point someone’s heart or mind may open, and you coukd be the spark. So stay courageous and speak out, but it does not need to be combative as this article suggests.