The racism meter is an interactive learning tool designed to help individuals reflect more critically on everyday situations that may involve racism. Instead of treating racism as a simple yes-or-no phenomenon, this activity invites users to think about different contexts and dimensions of harm.
The racism meter utilises the HIIIIPS (H4IPS) framework, which breaks down the extent to which an action may be considered racist across several dimensions, including historical context, instinct, intentionality, impact on individuals, impact on communities, power dynamics and stereotypes.
The framework provides questions we can ask ourselves when unpacking any situation/action we may find racially offensive:
| Dimension | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Historical Context | Does the behaviour draw upon or invoke injustices from the past? |
| Instinct | Do you personally find the behaviour offensive? |
| Intent | Do you think the intent of the behaviour was malicious? |
| Impact (Individual) | Do you think the behaviour was damaging/hurtful to the individual? |
| Impact (Community) | Do you think the behaviour was damaging/hurtful to any particular community? |
| Power Dynamics | Was the person in a position of power when behaving that way? |
| Stereotype | Does the behaviour rely on or reinforce negative stereotypes about a particular race? |
Take this quiz not to arrive at a definitive, final answer, but to notice how your own judgements form, and what might be shaping them beneath the surface.
By responding to a series of short scenarios, you’ll see how responsive you are to everyday situations and instances of racism. The full framework, and how different dimensions all come together, will be explored in depth during our workshops.