Dear Amy, in your article you say:During my 20 short years on this Earth, Ie28099ve seen the word e2809craciste2809d dralitcasly change in meaning. I used to think the word was only reserved for the most prejudiced among us. If only that were still the case.So, by that I take it that you believe that some level of racism is okay and acceptable, and we, people of color who are the victims of racism, should just accept the systemic and institutional racism built into virtually every facet of daily life, especially where I live, in Texas.You see the problem is that you are patently unqualified to define racism because you are incapable of seeing it. You are incapable of seeing it because it does not affect you. You are not the victim of racism because you are not a member of a group that has been historically and systematically oppressed. I can say that because if you were a member of such a group you would realize that racism is alive and quite well in the United States. In fact, it has gotten more and more healthy over the last few years. What has happened recently is an increased level of toleration for racism and racist vitriol. You are in fact the victim in this case.I say you are the victim because by virtue of your professed youth, you have not the experience to create a perspective based on multiple decades of observation.You mention the tea parties and their association with racist behavior and in relation to that I would urge you to read the essay What If The Tea Party Was Black, with an honest and open mind.Finally, I would urge you to stop writing about subjects with which you have little or know experience, or write based on good and diligent research, conducted under the guidance of a true academic, to explore the history and pervasiveness of American Racism.Peace,Andy

by Leyla 02:55:25 AM 2013.06.29