How to Report a Racial Incident in Your Community

How to Report a Racial Incident in Your Community

When something happens — at work, in a store, on campus, or in your neighborhood — the first instinct is often to move on. But isolated incidents become patterns only when someone writes them down. That is why AASS exists: to help Black Americans document harm, see where it clusters, and turn evidence into demands policymakers cannot ignore.

What counts as a reportable incident?

You do not need a police report or a lawyer to use AASS reporting. Community members document:

• Racial slurs, threats, or harassment in public or at work
• Discrimination in housing, hiring, or service
• Hate-related vandalism or intimidation
• School or workplace bias that went unaddressed
• Patterns of profiling or unequal treatment

If it affected you or your community and race was part of it, it belongs in the record.

Step 1: Write down what happened

Capture the facts while memory is fresh:

• What was said or done
• Where (city, state, and type of location)
• When (date and approximate time)
• Who was involved, if you are comfortable naming roles (employer, officer, neighbor, etc.)

You do not need perfect detail. A clear summary is enough to start.

Step 2: Submit to the AASS incident map

Use the free report form. No account is required. Your submission may appear on the public incident map grouped by city so others can see whether the same harm keeps showing up in the same places.

Important: AASS is civic documentation, not law enforcement. For emergencies, call 911. For criminal complaints, file with local police. AASS complements those channels by making community-level patterns visible.

Step 3: Connect documentation to policy

Reporting is not the end goal. The point is to prove the pattern and win the demand. Read The Winnable Demand for one example of how Black America can narrow a fight the country keeps dodging — and explore more insights on safety, technology, and advocacy.

Why community reporting matters

Official statistics undercount harm against Black Americans. Agencies filter, delay, or dismiss complaints. A parallel public record — built by the people who lived it — gives journalists, organizers, and elected officials something concrete to respond to.

Every report strengthens the map. Every pattern on the map strengthens the case for change.

Ready to document what happened? Report an incident now.