Tatum Racism

While reading Tatum's article about racism I did not understand how colored people cannot be racist. I don't know if my definition of racism is too similar to that of prejudice, having negative views of someone or pre-judging them. In my mind there is only prejudice and separating it into different types, sexist racist etc only further separates us. There is even speciesism which is discrimination against animals, now that's going a little too far I think. I was on a Mohawk reservation upstate with my church one summer and we were helping people paint their houses. While we were on the front lawn some Native Americans drove by and yelled out "Crackers!" To me it had no effect because when I grew up there were only white people in my neighborhood and I had never heard the term used against me.

But I know the N word has much more of an impact on black people. A month or so ago my friend was playing her music a little too loud so the girl upstairs started stomping on the floor, my friend went upstairs to ask why she was doing that and the girl proceeded to call her the N word three times. My friend was so offended that she called the police and wanted to have her arrested. I believe the girl was referred to SWJ. I have never grown up with people judging me and consider myself ignorant, though I'm not sure that is the right word because I have many many friends of different races I date different races, of racism. I know racism still exists but it is a far away concept for me