When it comes to sex, pornography offers a choose-your-own fantasyland. From massage sex to bondage sex to cartoon sex, the possibilities are endless.

However, the industry is not without its problems. Oftentimes, directors will allow performers to be abused and disrespected on set. One performer recounts being called the n-word in front of her fellow performers.

1. Educate Yourself

As a society, we have a tendency to fetishize Black bodies and sexualize Black women. This can be harmless fun or harmful, depending on the context and intention of the depictions. Pornography is no exception. Oftentimes, the depiction of racism and sexism in pornography is hidden behind a facade of fantasy and fun. This allows for the perpetuation of stereotypes that wouldn’t be tolerated in any other form of media.

It’s no secret that the porn industry can be a dangerous place for women of color. However, a lack of awareness about the conditions of porn sets makes it difficult to understand how widespread the problem is. As a result, there are endless lived stories of violence and trauma in the adult industry that go unreported.

Fortunately, there are some people working to change these standards. Porn performers, producers, and directors are forming collectives to advocate for changes in the industry and create safer working environments for sex workers. These groups include the BIPOC Adult Industry Collective, led by porn actor Sinnamon Love and producer Shine Louise Houston. The collective aims to move the industry forward by providing education initiatives for financial independence, industry support services helping companies put anti-racism and sex worker rights at the forefront of their business models, and mutual aid funds that distribute money directly into the hands of sex workers in need.

2. Be Open-Minded

While it’s important to remember the history of overt racism in pornography, the industry should be open-minded about racially sensitive content. The same rules that apply to other types of media can be applied to the porn industry, and a more mindful approach can make for a safer work environment.

It doesn’t take long to stumble upon racist porn titles that promote offensive racial stereotypes of Black women and femmes. These stereotypes are often the subject of “gonzo porn,” which centers on low-budget films and can smear Black women with damaging racial connotations in titles like, “Black Sluts” and “Inner City Sluts.”

Pornography is a huge business and it’s not going to disappear any time soon, but it’s important to be aware that the industry doesn’t have to accept racially harmful content. Thankfully, there are many talented Black porn directors who are creating a more ethical work environment.

Director Sinamon Love and other Black pornographers have formed the BIPOC Adult Industry Collective to push for changes in sex work. The group wants to advocate for safer, more equitable working conditions in sex media and has worked with the Free Speech Coalition to help fight back against the censorship of pornography. The organization has also been active in promoting awareness of the importance of on-set safety and consent training.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, several porn companies and performers released statements of support. But many have not done much to address their history of racist practices, according to the Black Porn Collective, a group of porn workers advocating for change.

Overt racism has become less acceptable in our culture, but pornography often delivers racial stereotypes and misinformation about pleasure and consent that would never be tolerated in any other industry. This is why we need to talk about it – and listen to the voices of those who have lived it.

The most common way that porn exploits Black women is through the use of racist fetishisms. These include racial stereotypes about hair, weight, facial features, and body type, which leave Black women in an especially vulnerable position. These fetishes are used to justify sexualizing and dehumanizing Black women in ways that wouldn’t be acceptable in other forms of media.

This is why it’s important to keep an eye out for porn that portrays Black sexuality in a more ethical and progressive manner. Thankfully, there are more than a few websites and apps offering up this kind of content. For example, the Black Amateur Porn subreddit offers amateur videos and pictures of Black people masturbating, posing sexily, and having sex in their homes or other settings.

4. Be Open-Minded

The vast majority of pornography features black people in racist and dehumanizing ways. It’s not just in the titles—it’s in the content. A typical search on Pornhub yields videos with names like “Black Sluts,” or “Ebony Sex Workers” and “Inner City Sluts.” In these scenes, black women are depicted as trash, whores, and sex slaves, relegated to low-budget films in rundown alleys and garbage-filled streets.

These stereotypes are exacerbated by the fact that white men are responsible for the majority of pornography. Often, when Black women appear in scenes with white directors, they’re subjected to racism that they didn’t even anticipate or prepare for. One Black performer recalls a scene where she was performing oral sex with two white men in an urban setting, and the director called her the N-word in front of them, which sparked an instant panic attack.

Thankfully, some performers and creators are fighting to change this. A collective led by black pornographer Sinnamon Love, producer Shine Louise Houston, and master fetish trainer Jet Setting Jasmine—collectively known as the BIPOC Adult Industry Collective—is working to reshape how Black women are perceived in the sexual entertainment industry by creating ethically produced porn that represents Black female bodies, sexualities, and desires in a more nuanced and progressive way. The group’s mission includes a range of educational initiatives to foster financial independence, industry support services helping companies put anti-racism and sex worker rights at the center of their business models, and mutual aid funds that distribute money directly into the pockets of BIPOC sex workers in need.