Just a bit of back ground: I'm japanese, native, german/scot/irish with a pretty even mix. I look hispanic and in summer can appear to be darker. I grew up in a community that was 95% white (according to city-data). There were three non white people in my class including me. I grew up with racism. I know it's ugly face and through years of living amongst this community I learned to really know the difference between someone who is merely ignorant and repeating what they've heard and someone who hates you for existing. I've been called a "-blam!-" "spic" "gook" more times than I can count. I've been in more fights than I can I count. I can honestly say that I've come face to face with personal and institutionalized racism many times in my life. I would never be the one to say that racism doesn't exist. Yet through it all I've learned one thing... IF YOU ARE EQUAL YOU WILL BE EQUAL. No matter what they -blam!-ing tell you. This is forged in fire.You may not have equality from the community or government but they do not decide your worth, you do. Not once did I appeal to higher authority to help me. Why should I appeal to a white man to help me against a white man (or a black man, more on that later). To do so is to give acknowledgment to a power that doesn't truly exist. *****DISCLAIMER OVER***** Now for the kicker. After I graduated I moved to Phoenix for school. No juicy stories here. All I can tell you is that as an American there were a few places where Mexicans gathered (bars, festivals) where it was obvious that I was not welcome. I now live in Petersburg which is around 70% black. When I first moved here I worked for a prison which in which my entire chain of command was black and guess what? Personal and institutionalized racism, except this time I wasn't a "-blam!-" I was a "White Boy" which despite not being on the official list of racial slurs carries the exact same intonation coming from the right mouth (occasionally I was the "oppressor" but that was only from inmates). Now I work for a company in human services with my wife. My entire chain of command up to the ceo is female. And just yesterday I had a meeting with a case manager who explained to everyone how her 3 year old nephew was such a "chauvinist pig." A conversation that was very well received by almost everyone in the room. There are plenty of examples but I'm tired of explaining. But you must be wondering what is the point of this post. [spoiler]I AM SICK OF HEARING THAT I NEED TO CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE, THAT I NEED TO CARE ABOUT WOMEN, THAT I NEED TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEM, TO HAVE "COMPASSION AND THAT I NEED TO CHAMPION ALL OF THEIR (VERY SELF-SERVING) CAUSES.[/spoiler] PEOPLE are racist. People are sexist. No not just white male people with "privilege" ALL people. If you are different from a majority that majority will react to that difference. So you can say "racist people" but the simpler version is to call them "people" and just let racist and sexist be part of the definition. Every man (or woman of any color) has the responsibility to care for and respect themselves. If you identify with a community and want to champion their cause so be it, but is that community's sole responsibility to do it for themselves. But keep in mind that appealing to an authority that may be comprised of your "oppressors" to hand you equality (read political and social power) is an act of weakness. Have some dignity, have some honor, don't hide your push for power in the guise of victimization. Once you have it there is no doubt in my mind that you will be just as petty and disgusting as the current system if not more so. Why, because you are PEOPLE AND LIKE IT OR NOT YOU SHARE ALL THE SAME VICES AS YOUR "OPRESSORS."