stepping outside the comfort zone...

Mar 21, 2008 - 18:51 PM PST

Recently I've been surrounded with the issue of race and racism. When I say surrounded, I mean that I've discussed it in classes and consequently my eyes have been opened to the racial issues around me. Talking about race makes me uncomfortable. I'm uncomfortable because I tend to be a fix-er. I love solving problems, and sometimes I get apathetic when those around me refuse to be as practical as I am in that moment. I think that's why I don't like to talk about racism, I can't fix it, so I prefer to "forget" that it still happens. All this to say that I am not racist in the literal sense of the word. I am aware of skin color differences and cultures but I do my utmost to not let them affect my life.

Today I was eating with some of my favorite people, and they recounted a story that included someone who was a member of the "Aryan Nation". Honestly, I was appalled that organizations like that still exist. Call me idealistic, but I feel like people can do better than that.

In one of my senior exit classes we just finished reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X and part of the class is responding in journals to what we've read for that day's discussion. All of my journals talked about my reluctance to broach the topic of race. As a white woman, I feel like I shouldn't talk about it. I can't truly explain why, but it's just difficult for me. Here's my question:

Why do you think racism exists?