African American

We were taught that POC were inferior, genetically. That slaves were bred to be hard workers, and not for intelligence. In fact, the more intelligent, the more of a trouble maker they were for their owners. At about age 12 I started questioning this, and fighting with my father, who was the worst....and was promptly shut down, told to move the @#$! out.. I was called a "bleeding heart" because I cared about animals, and ALL people.

I have cut out a lot of my family and old family friends, who to this day continue their racist diatribes. I just can't be around that toxicity. Unfortunately, it means I am not close to my family of origin. I have many good memories, the racism isn't a part of.

I've made my own "family" with good friends and neighbors of all colors, shapes and sizes, all religions. I think there is hope for those who are born into racism and don't know any different, but infiltrating that family dynamic is TOUGH.

My brothers both went into the military and got a real awakening to the realities of racial integration, but both are still exceptionally racist when referring to "those people". Because "those people" are different than "my black friend Joe" or "my latina friend Marie". So they don't even realize they are doing it. The fact they have a black friend or a hispanic friend, is enough to absolve them of any perceived racism.

I wish I had the answers. Thanks for the thoughtful OP. You definitely got this gal thinking...