Colman Domingo Shares Insight on How to Move Toward Racial Healing: 'Daily Practice' (Exclusive)

When it comes to fighting for racial equity, Colman Domingo is adamant about moving forward in a way that's healthy for all individuals.

The West Philadelphia native has become a champion for the cause, recently joining forces with the The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) in honor of its celebration of the National Day of Racial Healing.

Established in 2017, the special occasion—observed on Jan. 21, the day after the upcoming inauguration and immediately following Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday—was created to "bring the concept of racial healing to the forefront of conversations about what it takes to achieve racial equity," according to the organization. "The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism."

Further, "it is an opportunity to bring ALL people together in their common humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world."

During an exclusive chat with Parade, the Euphoria actor detailed his involvement with the campaign—alongside La June Montgomery Tabron, the first female and first African American President and CEO of the Kellogg Foundation—noting that the way he sees it, moving toward racial healing "starts within."

"We have to be available to do the work, to do the work in our communities; to really extend ourselves to know more," Domingo said, adding that progress is "attainable," and something which he believes will "make our homes, our communities, our society stronger." However, "it is our own responsibility—it starts with you, and then it extends out."

As for advice to people who aim to be more conscious, inclusive and understanding toward those they may not be able to directly relate to, it's important to "extend grace," Domingo noted.

"Start out by affirming the other person," Montgomery Tabron chimed in agreeing, explaining that it's important, first, to begin at a basic level. "Start out getting to know someone, and a little bit of their story and their background," she said, which "builds an understanding and empathy that will serve you well when you get into the question maybe you may disagree on."

Though it starts with "curiosity of the other," all in all, racial healing must become "a life practice that you experience on the daily, being curious about someone else and really finding ways to understand another person," the Rustin actor added. "It has to be part of our consciousness."

Domingo continued: "There's so many seeds planted in our country of division," but "we must all acknowledge that this is the truth of where we are, and we have to do the work, personally, every day, in small ways, to just acknowledge each other's humanity" and "experience, no matter how diverse it is. It becomes a daily practice."

So, the biggest perceived roadblock in achieving racial equity? "It's dialogue," Montgomery Tabron cautioned. "Healing is the pathway to racial equity, but what happens in real life is our conversations are very transactional. We debate around the issues that we bring with us—there's no time for truth-telling, no time for storytelling, no time for true dialogue that helps us understand the other perspective."

"So the most important thing for racial healing to happen is to create that safe space," she added.

Meanwhile, the Fear the Walking Dead actor believes a huge roadblock is also that "people think it's too scary to engage, they don't wanna feel bad about history." But he insists "it's not a scary place to be to acknowledge our history, and knowing where we are so we can get better, because the opportunity is extraordinary of what we can become, but we have to know where we've been."

As for something The Color Purple (2023) star personally keeps in mind in instances where he feels he may have been treated unfairly based on his race, he admits that he is always willing to "fight for my DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in many ways"—and others should be, too.

Being willing to have "civil conversations" and "be uncomfortable with it; to hold people accountable, to advocate for myself," can go a long way.

"I keep taking steps," he clarifies. "I feel like I'm doing the best that I can do in every single way, and that moves the needle. If it doesn't move the needle in that situation, it moves it in the next because I have even more awareness."

"I don't get mad, I get clear," Domingo doubled down.

Find more information on the organization or how to get involved, visit the 2025 National Day of Racial Healing's website.

Next: 50 Racial Justice Quotes To Inspire Sorely Needed Change