Racism in America is the systematic institutionalization of the oppression of people of color by the dominant white culture. Because racism is institutionalized it does not rely solely on individuals to maintain it. Rather, it is embedded in the social, economic, educational, and political structures we inhabit. It generally means three things. First, racism, while often explicit, is mostly hidden from the view of whites. Second, blackness becomes pathologized and criminalized, and whites pretend that this is not the case, or refuse to notice. Third, it means that pretending and non-noticing whites likely suffer from racism or residual racism and are the reasons the structures of oppression are so resilient. Racism and prejudice are not the same thing. Racism is systemic oppression and results in difficulty getting a job because of the color of one’s skin, or getting pulled over at much higher rates than whites, or greater difficulty defending one’s innocence in court, getting much longer prison terms than whites for the same crime, and dying in police custody at much higher rates than whites. So for me as a white male to say I have been a victim of racism because people occasionally use offensive stereotypes about my Swedish/Irish heritage, is incorrect. I have suffered nothing but mild irritation because of these stereotypes. I don’t suffer through the indignities of daily microaggressions because of the color of my skin. No one wants to touch my hair. No one says, “You’re pretty articulate for a white guy.” No one follows me around in stores. Whiteness has never affected my job prospects, my ability to get a fair trial, how cops treat me. I can claim that I have been affected by prejudice (and very rarely at that), but not racism. So, if you are white, avoid saying you are a victim of racism because a black man said something you did not like or a black woman put you in your place. Changing racist attitudes starts by noticing one’s own racism or residual racism. Both white conservatives and white liberals are horrified by the prospects that residual racism is likely part of their behavior and attitude, and hide their fear by denying that there is a problem (many conservatives), or displaying flash-in-the-pan outrage (many liberals). Changing white attitudes is a necessary start to end the oppression of racism. Dismantle the structures that explicitly advantage whites while disadvantaging people of color. Have you experienced racism? Have you been around a person who makes racist remarks? Explain your reaction, how you felt, what you did about it. Make some connection with the readings, videos or slides from this topic.