When we speak we all exhibit biases; biases that reflect our experiences, region where we grew up, personal history, fads, likes, and dislikes. To examine your own communication patterns for racial or ethnic bias pay attention to the following:
• Be aware of works, images, and situations that suggest all or most members of a racial or ethnic group are the same
• Avoid qualifiers that reinforce racial and ethnic stereotypes
• Identify by race or ethnic origin only when relevant
• Be aware of language that, to some people, has questionable racial or ethnic connotations
• Be aware of possible negative implications of color symbolic words
• Avoid patronizing and tokenism toward any racial or ethnic group
• Substitute substantive information for ethnic cliches
• Review media to see if all groups are fairly represented