I am a white person; therefore, I am a racist. I have benefited from white privilege and there is much I do not appreciate or even understand about what the benefits of those privileges have brought me and others.
To be white and say that one is not a racist denies the experiences of people of color from the beginning of the European invasions of this continent.
Hopefully, what I can say, as a white person, is that I work hard (at least some of the time) at being less racist than I was last year and 10 years ago and even beyond that. In addition, I speak up and listen so that I can learn and help our country grow into its potential and promise.
I wish the president would join me, as a learner, about privilege and racism and come to see his participation in these systems.
Barbara Thomson
Portland
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