Keep Calm, Don’t Let Racism on Social Media Get to You

Here’s how to deal with the ignorance online.

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Brush Your Shoulders Off  - While social media can be a place to feel affirmed and join a movement, it can also be a breeding place for hatred, ignorance and microaggressions. Here’s how and why to not fall into the trolling trap. By Kellee Terrell(Photo: Tim Robberts/Getty Images)

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Is Your Response Really Going to Change Hearts?  - If you’re like me, you have a good heart and really want to educate folks, but is it really worth the time? One time someone said Black Democrats like me were “dumb as dogs.” At that point, you already know that reasoning isn’t going to work.  So why bother? (Photo: Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images)

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Is It Worth Jeopardizing Your Mental Health?  - It can be really hard to walk away from a heated debate, especially one where the person is so clearly wrong. But how many times can someone defile your humanity before it starts to take a toll on your psyche? Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is walk away. (Photo: Zero Creatives/Getty Images)

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Try Avoiding the Comments Section  - In addition to fighting with friends of friends (or even friends), the comments sections on media Facebook accounts are nothing more than a black hole. So, let the lowest common denominator live there — not you. (Photo: Brooke Fasani/Getty Images)

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It’s Not Worth Losing Your Job Over  - Look, racist folks are out there losing their jobs —and for good reason. And while we understand how tempting it can be to go down in the gutter with the most uniformed hillbilly, resist the urge to lower yourself to their ignorant standards. In this era of screencapping, don’t mess up your paper over a stranger’s stupidity.(Photo: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)

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The Unfriend and Block Buttons Are Your Friends  - If there was ever a time to delete and ban folks from your timeline, this is definitely it. No one has time for that “All Lives Matter” or “What about Black-on-Black crime?” nonsense. So go ahead and exercise that right to purge. You’ll feel much better. (Photo: Mint Images - Tim Robbins/Getty Images)

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Take a Break and Log Off  - Twitter and Facebook can really have us in our feelings. So go ahead and walk away for a few days or weeks. Trust: It’s completely OK to live in ignorance for a bit. You’ve earned it — staying woke and informed can be exhausting. (Photo: Sam Bloomberg-Rissman/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Sam Bloomberg-Rissman/Getty Images

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Remember: We Are Not Saying Stay Silent  - In no way are we saying back down and run away with your tail in between your legs. By all means, be your authentic self. Just remember to think before you react, pick your battles and always put your state of mind first.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)