>For example, would you let a racist (even if he doesn't hurt anyone) without shaming him? Maybe you would, I wouldn't. To his face? I would tell him why his s

>For example, would you let a racist (even if he doesn't hurt anyone) without shaming him? Maybe you would, I wouldn't. To his face? I would tell him why his specific views were racist and harmful. Telling someone that they're racist isn't helpful. Where do they go from there? The only self-identity preserving options you've given them are to ignore you and believe that their views aren't racist (which is what usually happens), or to embrace racism as good and correct. Whereas if you get someone to reëxamine their views, you might get them to change their mind. In fact, this is exactly what has happened with well-intended but misguided racism education. We've taught people that racism is shameful, but we haven't really taught them how to identify their own racist views. As a result, people think "Well, racist people are bad, and I'm not a bad person, so I must not be racist." And that's how you get people saying things like "I'm not racist, but I think Asians are bad drivers." And that's the whole thing: shaming people hurts them and doesn't work. I have never changed someone's mind by making them feel bad about what they thought. I've felt self righteous for doing so, but never actually made a difference. But I have changed people's minds by engaging them in discussion. It's hard, and it's not as fun, but it sometimes works.