What is the first step that we should take in order to be more compassionate to others?

The first step that we should take in order to be more compassionate to others is become empathetic.

Explanation:

At this first step, the compassionate person tries to understand the other person and to feel as the other feels, putting herself into the other person's position.  On its own, compassion is the expression of genuine sympathy for the hardship or suffering of other people.  It is often backed by a genuine desire and commitment to ease their pains.  Compassion comes from the heart.  It is not a Public Relations gimmick.

the answer is:  

he is voicing feelings shared by all humans regardless of race.

in paul laurence dunbar's poem "we wear the mask," he replicates the words mask and we to emphasize how people in general -not just black americans- hide their true feelings. he suggests the masks cover people's faces and eyes, which are the main parts that display their emotions. he also thinks people's pain conceal behind those masks, so that they cannot see reality and nobody is able to see one another's sorrow.