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Personal Awareness Survey 

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Directions: This activity is best done in a small discussion group. Each individual should answer the following questions. Then, as a group, discuss and reflect on those answers. 

Attitudes Towards Others 

1. What are your most common feelings when you are exposed to people and situations different from yourself?

2. List those feelings in the order that you thought of them. Try to define your strongest feelings as specifically as possible.

3. When you were growing up, what were your parents’ attitude toward other racial groups?

   a) open and friendly

   b) indifferent

   c) prejudiced and unfriendly

4. Is your attitude toward other racial and ethnic groups changed from that of your parents? If yes, explain how.

5. How does your attitude toward other racial and ethnic groups compare with the views held by your friends?

   a) same

   b) slightly different

   c) different

   d) very different

6. Which one of the following items do you feel now has the greatest influence on your attitude toward the racial situation in the United States today?

a) your upbringing

b) personal philosophy or religious ideology

c) news media, commentators, or writers

d) special friends

7. Have you had honest discussions about racial issues with people who have views different from yours? If so, what did you learn? If not, why?

8. Do you subscribe to and/or read publications (newspapers, magazines, etc.) written by or about people of other cultures? If yes, which publications?

9. Do you feel that in the present there is still

   a) an African-American (Black) problem? Explain.

   b) a White problem? Explain.

   c) an Hispanic problem? Explain

   d) a Native American problem? Explain

   e) other? Explain.

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Are You Committed to Change?

Directions: Check “yes” or “no” and then discuss your answers in a small group.

1. Have I aggressively sought out more information in an effort to enhance my own awareness and understanding of racism (talking with others, reading, listening)? Yes   No

2. Have I reevaluated my use of terms or phrases that may be erceived by others as degrading or hurtful? Yes   No

3. Have I openly disagreed with a racist comment, joke, or action among those around me? Yes   No

4. Have I made a personal contract with myself to take a positive stand, even at some possible risk, when chance to address racism arises? Yes   No

5. Have I become aware increasingly of racist TV programs, advertising, news broadcasts, etc? Yes   No

6. Have I realized that White Americans are trapped by their own school, homes, media, government, etc., even when they choose not to be openly racist? Yes   No

7. Have I suggested and taken steps to implement discussions or workshops aimed at understanding racism? Yes   No

8. Have I investigated political candidates at all levels, including their stance and activity against government practices that are racist? Yes   No

9. Have I contributed time and/or money to an agency, fund or program that actively confronts the problems of racism? Yes   No

10. Have my buying habits supported non-racist shops, companies or personnel? Yes  No

11. Is my school, parish or place of employment a target for my educational efforts in responding to racism? Yes   No

12. Have I become seriously dissatisfied with my own level of activity in combating racism? Yes   No

13. How do I respond to change?

    a) easily

    b) question it

    c) follow the majority

    d) usually resist

    e) withdraw

Now discuss your answers, along with the following question:

14. What are some actions I will take to begin the conversion process in myself to undo racism?

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Adapted from Lutheran Volunteer Corps 1991 training materials.

 City of Spokane Human Rights Commission