Racial profiling is dehumanizing. You are not seen as a full human being, but as an object that society says it is OK to hate and even eliminate. It doesn’t matter what I have accomplished. I am seen as a dark-skinned potential criminal who can be brutalized.

The most important point to remember is that intentions don’t matter. When a white person plays vigilante against a Brown or Black person, the encounter is determined by the social context, not what is going on in the perpetrator’s head. This is a problem of neoliberal ideology. It reduces racism to individual acts and beliefs and denies the immense pressure of historical racism weighing on all of us. The reason so many Black men are homeless and in crisis on the streets of New York City is they have probably cracked from the weight of existing racism, criminalization, impoverishment, and police brutality.

How should you react if you see a bias attack? The most important step is to step out of your comfort zone. We are socialized to avoid conflict, especially in public, and even more so if the person being attacked carries a social stigma. Remember, they are someone’s child or loved one or parent, and they deserve dignity as much as any human being.

If you see something, say something. Keep your distance, but speak up loudly and calmly. You can say, “People are watching. There are witnesses. Don’t do anything you will regret.” You can also take out your cell phone and say, “People are recording you.” Don’t say that you are recording. Make the attacker hesitate or stop, not draw their attention to you, as they may become aggressive toward you.

At the same time, few bias attacks escalate into physical force. In cases where the attack is only verbal, you can approach the victim after the situation has calmed. Express sympathy; ask how they are doing and if you can do anything or call anyone. Let them take the lead and don’t impose yourself. Do not call police unless they ask you to. Cops can create more harm, especially if the victim is from a targeted group such as Black, transgender, Muslim, or an immigrant. When someone has been physically hurt, ask if you can call for medical assistance. Respect the wishes of the victim even if you don’t understand them.

Read the full article about being a good ally by Arun Gupta at YES! Magazine.