Q: If you hear someone use racial slurs, make a racial joke, or mistreat people because of their race, step in say something.You might be afraid of someone who is openly hostile, but think about how the other person feels. If you are afraid for your or the other person's safety, feel free to get an authority figure, such as the police, or an adult if you are a child or teenager.  If the person sees nothing wrong with what was said, ask the person not to say racist or bigoted remarks around you anymore. Tell the person that you will no longer hang around them if they continue to act this way. For example, if someone says "All _____ are criminals," ask the person, "Why do you say that?" or "Where do those beliefs come from?"  Try saying, "That was an inappropriate thing to say." or "How would you feel if someone said something like that about you?" If you miss the opportunity to say something or chicken out, do not beat yourself up about it. Promise yourself that you will speak up the next chance you get. Address the behavior or the comment instead of the person.  Do not resort to name calling or tell someone, "You're a racist." This will only offend them and make them angry. Most cities have cultural festivals and events. These events are a great place to learn about different cultures and interact with people from that culture. Invite your friends and family to go with you as well. Educating yourself and others is a way to have a more positive attitude towards people from different backgrounds. Events are often held in accordance with larger celebrations such as Black History Month, Asian-Pacific Heritage American Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, etc. Protests and demonstrations are powerful ways to combat racism in your community. These can be coordinated in response to events that happen around you.  For example, if someone puts racial graffiti on a building, you could get together with some people to paint over the graffiti.  If a hate group such as the Ku Klux Klan is coming to town, create a petition to stop them from coming.  Even if you are not able to organize something yourself, just the act of speaking up and introducing the idea is helpful. Always start by contacting your friends, family, classmates, neighbors, etc. You can also contact local law enforcement about your concerns or about what you are interested in doing. Racism happens at both the individual level and at the institutional level. Local and federal legislation can promote racism. Educating others and reforming yourself is more important, but the government does make a difference. Look for laws that promote equal salaries, equal opportunity, and punishment for people who discriminate in housing or employment.  Write your elected officials, newspapers, or contact community organizers about the policies. Many organizations are dedicated to working towards these issues. Joining or supporting one of these organizations is another method you can use. You may meet like-minded people or get useful updates. You can volunteer at the organization or donate your time and/or money to their cause. America Healing maintains a list of organizations that work on racial equity issues. Having a good understanding of your community will help you identify the best approaches for reducing racism.  Read through your local newspaper, magazine, or websites to get some background information.  What groups of people live in your community?  Do these groups live and work together? Are neighborhoods segregated? Have there been any incidents of racism between different groups?
A: Speak up if you see racism in action. Support and attend events that celebrate different cultures. Organize a vigil or protest. Lobby and fight for nondiscriminatory laws. Get involved with a local, national, or international organizations. Learn about your community.

Q: These lures give you a very accurate feel on the line, and are one of the most effective lures. The common plastic skirting attracts bass all year round. Bass will usually hit a bait while it is falling, so after it has sat on the bottom for a bit give the rod tip a small twitch to see if anything has picked up your bait. To fish a jig cast out and give the line plenty of time to hit the bottom. Jigs and plastics are fished differently than other types of lures. Instead of reeling in to produce the "action", the bait is retrieved by moving the rod tip.  After the bait has hit the bottom and you have given it a twitch, slowly lift the rod tip until it points straight up in the 12 o'clock position. Let it sit there for a moment and then drop it down to the 9 - 10 o'clock position and reel in the slack. Repeat these steps until your line is in. You'll have to have a good feel for your line to tell when a fish is biting so most people hold their finger against the line while lifting the rod tip. Look for sudden resistance or bumping on the line, a line that goes slack suddenly or veers sideways. To set the hook, drop the rod tip very quickly to the 3 o'clock position, and pull back hard to 12 o'clock. Jigs are most effective when employed in cover or closed to cover so be aware of the risk of getting snagged. Jigs are meant to imitate crawfish so try to make them scoot along the bottom.  Both jigs and plastic worms are best used slowly. Use jigs around fallen trees where bass are hiding. Brush piles on a rocky bottom, standing timber, thick grass, and flats are all prime locations to employ a jig. Pitch or flip a jig around the angles where limbs connect to the trunks of fallen trees. Let the jig fall to the bottom with a semi-tight line. Drag or hop your jig down ledges or drops to mimic the movements of a crawfish. Use a ¾ ounce jig when fishing through thick grass. Jigs are also effective when fishing on docks and piers because they provide protection from predators. Jigs are meant to imitate crawfish so they should be light in clear water and dark in murky water.
A:
Employ a short-range flipping and pitching techniques instead of casting out into the distance when using jigs. Employ proper technique. Examine the water conditions. Keep the colors simple.