Candidates will chose 5 of the 17 narratives in the assigned JCD issue and write a one page reaction paper for every one of the 5 narratives chosen (that is, the first page will cover your detailed re
7/30/2020 EBSCOhost web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=cbfbae87-901c-4f64-854a-ceb92bcd7a62%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=9&ReturnUrl=http%3a … 1/5 Tit le : A uth ors : S ourc e: D ocu m en t T y p e: S ubje ct T e rm s: G eo gra p hic T e rm s: A bstr a ct: F ull T e xt W ord C ount: IS SN : DO I: A ccessio n N um ber: D ata b ase: S ectio n: Record: 1 `M om my, T here ‘s a N ig ger a t th e D oor’. J a ckso n II, R onald L . Jo urn al o f C ounse lin g & D eve lo pm ent. W in te r9 9, V ol. 7 7 Is su e 1 , p 4. 3 p. A rtic le R AC IS M ETH NO CEN TR IS M R AC IA L id entit y o f b la ck p eople R AC IA L id entit y o f w hit e s FA M IL IE S U NIT E D S ta te s In th is a rtic le th e a uth or s h are s h is e xp erie nce s o n r a cis m . A s th e a uth or tu rn ed a ro und to c o ntin ue h is c o lle ctio ns fo r th e d ay, h e, a 1 1 -y e a r-o ld B la ck b oy, w as c ru sh ed. T his w as n ot th e fi rs t tim e h e h ad b een co nfr o nte d b y W hit e r a cis m , b ut it w as th e fi rs t tim e h e h ad e xp e rie nce d it fr o m a w ell- ta ught ” b aby” r a cis t. A s c h ild re n, h um an s a tte m pt to c o nfig ure th eir s u rro undin gs, e va lu atin g th e s a fe a nd u nsa fe p la ce s, p eople , a nd th in gs. T hey d ete rm in e th e r e w ard s a nd c o sts o f c e rta in k in ds o f r e la tio nsh ip s, a nd d efin e th eir id e ntit ie s b ase d o n th eir i n te ra ctio ns w it h o th ers . F or th e p ast th re e g enera tio ns, th e a uth or’s f a m ily h as liv e d in th e n orth ern m ost M id w este rn p art o f th e U nit e d S ta te s, w here th ey o fte n jo ke th at r a cis m is h id den in th e h oney. P eople f r o m th e S outh c o m e to th e a uth or’s h om eto w n to v is it , a nd th ey s w ear th at th ere ‘s n o r a cia l te nsio n a nyw here . T he a uth or’s p are nts w ere ra is e d in b oth W hit e a nd B la ck n eig hborh oods. B ut, th ey r a is e d th e auth or a nd h is b ro th er in W hit e r u ra l a nd s u b urb an a re as. 2 586 0748-9 633 10.1 002/j. 1 556-6 676.1 999.tb 02401.x 1 552353 B usin ess S ourc e P re m ie r S EVEN TE EN N AR RAT IV ES `M OM MY, T H ER E’S A N IG GER A T T H E D O OR’  ” M om my, th ere ‘s a n ig ger a t th e d oor w ho s a ys h e’s c o lle ctin g m on ey fo r th e p aper,” th e 5 -y e ar-o ld W hit e b oy scre am ed a s h e s u m moned h is m oth er. W hen a m id dle -a ged W hit e la dy d re sse d in c o rp ora te u nif o rm c a m e to t h e d oor w it h $ 1.2 5 to p ay m e fo r th e p ape r I’d d eliv e re d, s h e g re ete d m e w it h a h alf – h earte d s m ile a nd a fe w w ord s o f g ra tit u de. A s I tu rn ed a ro und to c o n tin ue m y c o lle ctio ns fo r th e d ay, I, a n 1 1 -y e ar-o ld B la ck b oy, w as cru sh ed. I fe lt s m all. T his w as n ot th e fi rs t tim e I h ad b een c o n fr o nte d b y W hit e r a cis m , b ut it w as th e fi rs t tim e I’d e xp erie nce d it fr o m a w ell- ta ught ” b aby” r a cis t. In r e tr o sp ect, I r e m em ber r e se ntin g th e m oth er, w ho I c o n clu ded m ust h ave b een d ir e ctly r e sp onsib le fo r, o r had a t le ast c o ndoned, th e W hit e s u pre m acis t r it e s-o f- p assa ge in w hic h th e b oy h ad b een im mers e d. I d is lik e d 7/30/2020 EBSCOhost web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=cbfbae87-901c-4f64-854a-ceb92bcd7a62%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=9&ReturnUrl=http%3a … 2/5 th at th is c h ild w as tr a gic a lly in ducte d w it h out c o n scio us c h o ic e to a ” s o cie ty ” o f h um ans w ho d eem ed th em se lv e s fi t fo r s u perio r s ta tu s o ve r o th e r h um an s w ho d id n’t lo ok lik e th em . L ate r, I b egan to th in k a bout th is w om an. S he s e em ed to m e to b e th e k in d o f p ers o n w ho y o u ‘d w ant to c o n fid e in o r y o u’d fe el c o m pelle d to g re et if y o u s a w h er a t th e g ro ce ry s to re . T hen, I b egan to b la m e th e in flu e ntia l p ers o ns w ho m ust h ave o rie nte d th at m oth er to s u pre m acis t id eo lo gy. A nd, I a ls o w ondere d if I s h o uld b la m e m yse lf ; I w ondere d if I w as at le ast p artly r e sp onsib le . I d ecid ed th a t I c o u ld n’t h ave b een. A fte r a ll, it w asn ‘t m y fa ult th at m y p hysio gnom ic q ualit ie s w ere c o nte ste d a nd d esp is e d. N oneth ele ss, I fe lt th at I w as m ark e d , th at I’d b een d esig nate d a s p ace in w hic h to liv e . I h adn’t c o nsid ere d th at it w as m y c h o ic e w heth er o r n ot to liv e in th at s p ace . A t th at a ge, it ‘s h ard to te ll w hat th in gs a re fi xe d a nd w hat th in gs a re c o n te sta ble . A s c h ild re n, w e h um ans a tte m pt to c o nfig ure o ur s u rro undin gs, e va lu atin g th e s a fe a nd u nsa fe p la ce s, p eople , and th in gs. W e d ete rm in e th e r e w ard s a nd c o sts o f c e rta in k in ds o f r e la tio nsh ip s, a nd w e d efin e o ur id entit ie s base d o n o ur in te ra ctio ns w it h o th ers . T he a necd o te s I p ro vid e a re p ain fu l e pis o d es o f r a cis m fr o m m y adole sce nt y e ars . N eedle ss to s a y, m y in te rp re ta tio ns w ere in te rc e p te d b y s o cia l d yn am ic s th at p re ce ded m e and th at I fe lt w ere o ut o f m y c o ntr o l. T he re fo re , e ve ry c ro ss-ra cia l e nco u nte r b eca m e e sp ecia lly m eanin gfu l in s h apin g w ho I a m to day. Y et, th ere a re th o se o uts ta ndin g p ers o n al e xp e rie nce s, w hic h a re o ve rw helm in gly n egativ e , th at fu nctio n a s c o nsta nt s ig npo sts r e m in din g m e o f th in gs I w ill n ot to le ra te a nd p rin cip le s I m ust m ain ta in . B y e xp la in in g m y p ers o nal b ackg ro und, a fe w r a cia l e pis o d es a nd a necd ote s, a c o pin g s tr a te gy fo r ra cis m , a nd im plic a tio ns o f r a cis m fo r th e h elp in g p ro fe ssio ns in g enera l, th is e ssa y im plic it ly a rg ues th at s e lf – e xp lo ra tio n a nd m onit o rin g is th e k e y to h u m an a nd s p ir it u al e vo lv e m en t, r a cia l c o hesio n, a nd b ein g a n eff e ctiv e s ch ola r-p ro fe ssio nal. I b elie ve t h at th e p ro ce sse s o f s e lf – e xp lo ra tio n a nd s e lf – d efin it io n b egin in e arly c h ild hood a s w e e m ula te o ur p are nts ‘ b eh avio rs , g estu re s, a nd a ttit u des. P ER SO NAL B ACKG RO UND For th e p ast th re e g enera tio ns, m y fa m ily h as liv e d in th e n orth ern m ost m id w este rn p art o f th e U nit e d S ta te s, w here w e o fte n jo ke th at r a cis m is h id den in th e h oney. P eople fr o m th e S outh c o m e to o ur h om eto w n to v is it , a nd th ey s w ear th at th ere ‘s n o r a cia l te nsio n a nyw here . I th in k th e n otio n o f r a cia l c o lo r b lin dness w as b orn in t h e N orth . M y p are nts w ere r a is e d in b o th W hit e a nd B la ck n eig hborh oods. B ut, th ey r a is e d m y b ro th er a nd m e in W hit e r u ra l a nd s u burb an a re as. T hese w ere p la ce s w here , if I w ante d a B la ck g ir lf r ie nd, I’d h ave to tr a ve l a d is ta nce th at w as n ot c o nduciv e to m y 1 0 -s p e ed b ik e . O ne d ay, I s a w th is b eautif u l g ir l w it h p re tty b lu e e ye s and lo ng, s tr in gy h air . I d ecid ed to p urs u e h er. S o, I a ppro ach e d h er, a nd w e ta lk e d a w hile . F in ally , s h e g ave m e h er p hone n um ber, a nd th e fi rs t tim e I c a lle d s h e p olit e ly e xp la in ed to m e th at th ere w ould b e n o w ay th at w e c o uld d ate , b eca use h er fa th er w ould n ot a llo w h er to d ate a ” N egro .” I w as fl o ore d. D epre ssio n s e t in q uic kly , a nd I v iv id ly r e m em ber b ein g e m otio nally p ara ly ze d. I n eve r w ante d to fe el th at w ay a gain , s o I v o w ed fr o m th en o n to a vo id a ll in tim ate in vo lv e m en ts w it h W hit e fe m ale s. H ow eve r, a t a n e arly a ge, I d id d eve lo p g enuin e fr ie ndsh ip s w it h W hit e m ale s. W e p la ye d to geth er, b ut fo r so m e r e aso n w e d id n’t d o to o m any ” s le ep -o ve rs ” a nd ” e at- o ve rs .” It n eve r b oth ere d m e th ough, b eca use I r e ally d id n’t c a re a bout a nyth in g e xce pt h avin g fr ie nds w it h w hom to p la y. M y m oth er a lw ays to ld u s th at acq uain ta nce s w ould a lw ays c o m e a nd g o, b ut fa m ily w ould a lw ays b e th ere , s o m y b ro th er a nd I w ere e nco ura ged to d eve lo p a s tr o ng fr ie ndsh ip w it h o ne a noth er. M y m oth er h ad W hit e fr ie nds, a nd s o d id m y fa th er. I n otic e d th at th eir B la ck fr ie nds, h o w eve r, te nded to b e m ore p erm an ent. T o th is d ay, I c a n’t th in k o f a ny W hit e fr ie nds m y m oth er s till h as. M y fa th e r h as o ne. M y p are nts ‘ B la ck fr ie nds a re a bundant. O ve r th e y e ars , in p assin g, I’v e h eard b oth o f m y p are nts c o m ment a bout d is tr u stin g o r fe elin g s u sp ic io us o f c e rta in W hit e s. I o bse rv e d m y p are nts in te ntly tr y in g to g ath er c lu es o n w hat r a ce m ea nt to th em . In a w ay, I g uess I w as se arc h in g fo r g uid ance . I d id n’t k n ow h ow I s h o uld fe el a bout th ese p eople , s o m e o f w hom I’d c a lle d fr ie nds a nd oth ers w ho’d c a lle d m e ” n ig ger.” 7/30/2020 EBSCOhost web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=cbfbae87-901c-4f64-854a-ceb92bcd7a62%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=9&ReturnUrl=http%3a … 3/5 In e le m enta ry s ch ool a nd h ig h s ch ool, I h ad a t le ast tw o c lo se W hit e fr ie nds. T he fr ie ndsh ip s d eve lo ped a t sch ools in tw o s ta te s, b ut in b oth c a se s, th ese c lo se -k n it fr ie nds o f m in e e nded u p te rm in atin g o ur r e la tio nsh ip n ot lo ng a fte r w e g ra duate d. It w asn ‘t d on e in a ny fo rm al m an ner; it c o u ld p ro bably b e d escrib ed a s abandonm ent. I r a tio naliz e d th at o ur fr ie n dsh ip s m ust h ave b een b ase d p ure ly o n c o nve nie nce . I h ave n eve r le t a W hit e p ers o n g et th at c lo se to m e a gain . A s I w rit e th is , I fi n d it in te re stin g th at I h ave c o nnecte d th ese d is ru pte d r e la tio nsh ip s w it h r a ce . I r e m em be re d w hat m y m oth er s a id a bout fr ie ndsh ip s c o m in g a nd g oin g. Y et, t h e r a ce o f m y W hit e fr ie nds w as th e o n ly c o m mon in gre die nt o f th ose lo st fr ie ndsh ip s th at a t th e tim e m ade se nse , g iv e n th at I’d a ls o b een in fo rm ed a bout th e lin k b etw een ” W hit e ness” a nd s o m e B la ck p eople ‘s g enera l dis tr u st o f W hit e s. R ACIA L E PIS O DES A ND A NEC DO TE S As I r e ca ll, m y fi rs t r a cia l c o nfr o nta tio n w as a t th e a ge o f 7 , w hen I w as c a lle d a ” n ig ger” b y a fe w s ch ool- a ge kid s o n m y w ay h om e fr o m s ch ool. U ntil th en, I h adn’t c la rifi e d fo r m yse lf w hat it m eant to b e B la ck. T his w as aro und th e s a m e tim e th at m y c la ssm ate s w ere c u rio us a bout m y p hysic a l c h a ra cte ris tic s. S o, th ey a ske d if t h ey c o uld to uch m y h air , fa ce , a nd s kin . T hey w ere e sp e cia lly in tr ig ued b y th e h air te xtu re . ” W ow , it ‘s lik e c o tto n,” th ey e xcla im ed. T hey p ut th eir W hit e a rm s u p n ext to m in e a nd d id n’t s a y a nyth in g. I n eve r k n ew w hat th eir s ile nce m eant. I to uch ed o ne g ir l’s h air ju st to o ff e r a m utu al g estu re , b ut I r e m em ber n ot r e ally b ein g a s in tr ig ued a s th ey w ere . T his w as o ne o f th e fe w e m otio nally n eutr a l m om en ts r e la te d to r a ce th at I h ad. I d id n’t f e el h appy o r fr u str a te d, in tr ig ued o r r e puls e d . I w as le ft w it h n o r e al in te nse e xp re ssio n o r m ood a t a ll. O ddly e nough, th at is w hat m ade th at o ne n eutr a l e nco u nte r s ta nd o ut fo r m e. H ig h s ch ool w as a d if f e re nt s to ry th ough. T he h ig h s ch ool c h ild re n s cre am ed, ” S am bo ! S am bo ! W hat’s u p d ude?” T hey w ere ta lk in g to S am , a B la ck b oy w ho’d ju st b een a dm it te d to th e s ch ool- -in cre asin g th e B la ck s tu dent p opula tio n b y 2 5% . W hat m ake s th is e pis o de s o u niq ue is th e c o m posit io n o f th e s tu dent b ody a t th e s ch ool. I w ent to a s e co ndary s ch ool th at w as fo r a dva nce d s tu dents , s o th e a ve ra ge f r e sh m an w as 1 0 to 1 2 y e a rs o ld . I a m s till a m aze d th at th ese a dole sce nt p re te ens k n ew a bout S am bo. W e h adn’t s tu die d m in str e l fi g u re s in h is to ry o r E nglis h c la ss. S o, th ey had r e ce iv e d th is in fo rm atio n e ls e w here . A dm it te dly , I w as a lo of. I h ad n o id ea a t th e tim e th at th ey w ere in su lt in g S am . I th ought it w as ju st a p la y o n w ord s to c a ll h im S am bo . B ut, th ey w ere r e ally a llu din g to a b la ckfa ce m in str e l fi g ure w it h b ig lip s, b ro w n e ye s, a nd e xa g gera te d p hysio gnom ic fe atu re s. T he s tu dents m aske d th eir o bvio us c u rio sit y a bout S am ‘s r a ce b y h urlin g n egativ e c o m ments a t th eir p eer. W hen I r e porte d it t o th e s ch ool’s a dm in is tr a tiv e o ffi ce , n o o n e s e e m ed a t a ll s u rp ris e d . T hey to ld m e th ey w ould ta lk to th e b oys. I c o ntin ued to c o nfr o nt th is p uerile ig nora nce th ro ughout h ig h s ch ool a nd c o lle ge; e ve n n ow it p ers is ts a m ong m y pro fe ssio nal c o lle agues. It w ould s e em th at o ld er a dult s ( a ges 3 0 a nd h ig her) w ould b e m ore m atu re a nd s e nsit iv e to r a ce is su es. B ut I g uess th ose e xtr a y e ars o f a dult h ood ju st c o n cre tiz e e arlie r r a cia l a ssu m ptio ns, b elie fs , a nd v a lu es. I ta ught a t one u niv e rs it y in w hic h o ne W hit e A m eric a n fa cu lt y m em be r, d urin g d in ner, b egan q uestio nin g a n A sia n fa cu lt y m em ber a bout w hat h is c u lt u re th ought a bout th e a sso rtm en t o f is su es o utlin ed b y th is W hit e fa cu lt y m em ber. I fi n ally tir e d o f th e in te rro gatio n a nd r e m ark e d th at th e A sia n fa cu lt y m em be r s h o uld n ot b e h eld r e sp onsib le fo r delin eatin g a ll A sia n p ers p ectiv e s o n th ese is su es. N ot o nly w as it u nfa ir a nd in co nsid era te , b ut it w as unre alis tic to e xp ect h im to d o th is w it h c o m ple te a ccu ra cy. I a m c o n tin ually a m aze d b y s o m e o f th e th in gs th at co m e o ut o f fa cu lt y m em bers ‘ m outh s. I h ave e ve n h eard u nju stifi e d in sin uatio ns b y W hit e fa cu lt y th at th e B la ck s tu dents w ere th e le ast in te llig ent s tu den t s u b popula tio n o n c a m pu s. S o w it h r a cia l p re ju dic e s lik e th at, im agin e w hat th ese fa cu lt y ta ke in to th e c la ssro om . F or th is r e aso n , in su lt s , F re udia n s lip s, a nd in appro pria te jo ke s a re p art o f th e e ve ry d ay p ro fe ssio nal p arla n ce in m ost in stit u tio ns. P erfo rc e , r a cis m s u rv iv e s b eca use p ers o nal liv e d e xp erie nce s, w heth er p osit iv e o r n e gativ e , d ic ta te in te ra ctio ns w it h o th ers . 7/30/2020 EBSCOhost web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=cbfbae87-901c-4f64-854a-ceb92bcd7a62%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=9&ReturnUrl=http%3a … 4/5 A C O PIN G S TR ATE G Y At s o m e p oin t, I a ctu ally b eca m e im mune to th ese r a cia lly c h a rg ed n egativ e c o m ments . I a m n ot s u ggestin g th at th e in su lt s a nd r e m ark s d on’t b oth er m e, b ut th at I n o lo nger fe el d efla te d a s a r e su lt o f h earin g th em . I’v e d is co ve re d th at th e fe w o f m y fr ie nds w ho d is lik e m ost W hit e s a re r e actin g to th eir m ult ip lic a tiv e e nco unte rs w it h W hit e s th at h ave e ve ntu ally tu rn ed s o u r. I d on’t k n o w o f a ny o ne B la ck in div id ual w ho is h ate fu l o f W hit e s fo r n o r e aso n a t a ll o r m ere ly b eca use o f th eir W hit e s kin c o lo r. In fa ct, I’v e h eard m any B la cks s a y th at ” ra cis m is n ot o ur p ro ble m .” T hey r a tio naliz e th at B la cks d id n ot c re ate it , n or a re th ey r e sp onsib le fo r it s im media te p re se nce , th ere fo re B la cks c a nnot d is m antle it a lo ne. S till, s o m e c o p in g s tr a te gie s a re c o unte rp ro ductiv e . C om bativ e w arfa re in th e fo rm o f B la cks’ p hysic a l v io le nce to w ard W hit e s o r o f W hit e s to w ard p eople o f c o lo r is n ot th e r ig ht a nsw er. F or s o m e, it s e em s ju stifi a b le fo r th e m om en t, b ut th en th ey r e aliz e th at it is im possib le to p hysic a lly p unis h a ll W hit e s e ve ry tim e r a cis m is e xp e rie nce d . I h ave le arn ed to c o pe in d if f e re nt w ays. T he m ost p re va le nt w ay is th ro ugh m y r e se arc h a nd te ach in g. I h ave e ngaged m yse lf in a lif e lo ng c rit iq ue o f id entit y , p artic u la rly th at o f W hit e s a nd B la cks. I a m c o nce rn ed a bout how a nd w hy r a cis m b egan a nd h as b ee n s u sta in ed. A ls o , I a m in sp ir e d b y th is p ers o nal q uest to u nco ve r w hat W hit e ness r e ally is a nd w hy m any W hit e s d on’t c la im a s p e cifi c c u lt u ra l h erit a ge, b ut w ould r a th er b e ” ju st A m eric a n.” I tr e at a lm ost e ve ry o ne th e s a m e, b ut I a m n ot n aiv e a bout r a ce . I c rin ge w hen I h ear p eople s a y th e fo llo w in g th in gs: I d on’t s e e c o lo r; y o u’r e n ot B la ck, y o u’r e ju st h um an . M y b est fr ie nd is B la ck. T here ‘s o nly o ne r a ce –th e h um an r a ce . E ve ry o ne is e qual, s o w hy d o w e n eed s o cia l e quit y p ro gra m s lik e w elf a re ? I u nders ta nd th e s tr u ggle o f y o ur p eople . A s a w om an, I k n ow w hat y o u g o th ro ugh a s a r a cia l m in orit y . D o y o u p la y b aske tb all? ( B eca use I a m ta ll a nd B la ck) Y our p eople a re s o ta le nte d. Y ou a re s o a rtic u la te . I fi n d m yse lf n ot o nly fa tig ued b ut p la gued b y th e fo llo w in g: R eports th at o ve re m phasiz e B la ck c rim e w hile W hit e c rim e is m ild ly m en tio ned. T he p opula r p erc e ptio n th at B la cks a re e it h er e nte rta in ers o r a th le te s. N egativ e m edia b om bard m ent o f B la ck m ale s. C orp ora te c lo se tin g o f r a cis m a s o ppose d to u sin g r e al p re ve n tiv e m ea su re s. It is v ir tu ally im possib le fo r a p ers o n o f c o lo r to r e ach a dult h ood w it h out e ve r e xp erie ncin g r a cis m . I w ould g uess th at m ost B la cks, fo r e xa m ple , h ave p ro bably b een c o n fr o nte d b y r a cis m a t le ast o nce b efo re th e a ge o f 15. IM PLIC ATIO NS So, I h ave a p ro ble m w it h p eople w ho s a y th at r a cis m d oes n ot e xis t- -th at it is a nath em a to th e c u rre nt so cio polit ic a l c lim ate . It is th e c e ntr a l b acte ria in o ur s o cie ty , w hic h p re ve n ts th e p ossib ilit y o f s o cia l c o hesio n. 7/30/2020 EBSCOhost web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=cbfbae87-901c-4f64-854a-ceb92bcd7a62%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=9&ReturnUrl=http%3a … 5/5 And, it b egin s in e arly c h ild hood fo r s o m e p eople . I o nce h eard a c o lle ge p ro fe sso r c o nte nd th at th ere is a d is tin ctio n b etw een a dult a nd ” b aby” r a cis ts . I fo und h is c o m ments fa scin atin g, b eca use fo r th at m om ent I’d fe lt t h at w e’d tr a ve le d th e s a m e lif e p ath . H e w as g iv in g v o ic e to m y p ers o n al h is to ry , c h ara cte riz in g a nd em bodyin g th e e sse nce o f m y p ain . F or a b rie f m om en t, I a ctu ally w ante d to k n o w h is s to ry . I w ondere d w hat m otiv a te d h im to te ach a bout c u lt u ra l is su e s. F or m e, th e a nsw er is c le ar: I w as d eva sta te d b y th e in delib le m ark th at r a cis m le ft o n m y m in d a nd s p ir it . It lit e ra lly d re nch e d m e a t a lm ost e ve ry s ta ge o f m y lif e . I c a m e to b elie ve th at W hit e s o w ned r a ce h atr e d, a nd I fi g u re d th at e ve ry b ig ote d in div id ual I c a m e a cro ss w as ju st “re ntin g” o r h ad in herit e d th is b ra nd o f e vil fr o m W hit e s. L uckily , I a m o ve r th at n ow , b ut s o m e o f m y s ca rs a re s till h ealin g. E ve ry tim e th at I r e ca ll o ne o f th ose e pis o d es o f r a cis m , I fe el th ose s a m e s ca rs s tin g. A s m arg in aliz e d h um an b ein gs in w hate ve r d is cip lin e o r p ro fe ssio n, w e a re p ro fo undly a ff e cte d b y r a ce in A m eric a . It is s o m eth in g th at fo rc e s u s to ” n egotia te ” o ur c u lt u ra l id entit ie s o n a d aily b asis . M any W hit e s, h avin g b een p ro te cte d fr o m th is c o de-s w it c h in g m an date , o fte n d o n ot r e aliz e th at r a cis m e xis ts . C ode sw it c h in g r e fe rs to th e a lt e ra tio n o f b ehavio r o ut o f p ers o n al n ece ssit y d ue to s o m e e xte rn al in flu ence . I th in k th at b eca use th ey d o n ot e xp erie nce o r p erp etu ate it in div id ually , it is d if fi cu lt to fa th om h ow it ta ke s p la ce . W hit e ness n eve r h as to b e d efin ed, b ut b la ckn ess m ust b e e xp lic a te d a nd d efe nded b y B la cks to p ro te ct A fr ic a n A m eric a n c u lt u ra l s p ace . A s w e p ro fe ssio nals b eco m e a w are o f h ow o ur o w n b ia se s c o ntr ib ute to a r a cia lly h ostile s o cia l c lim ate , th en w e a re m ovin g th at m uch c lo se r to e lim in atin g th ese b ia se s fr o m th e h um an equatio n. C erta in ly , th ere a re p eople w it h e nco u nte rs s im ila r to m in e, a nd th ey a re c o nsta ntly r e m in ded a bout th ese s it u atio ns d ue to th e s tig m as a tta ch e d to r a ce . P ers o n ally , I w ill a lw ays r e m em ber th e d ay w hen th at 5 – ye ar-o ld s a id , ” M om my, th ere ‘s a n ig ger a t th e d oor.” It r e in fo rc e s m y a w are ness th at r a cis m is n ot ju st r e sid ent in th e m in ds o f th e a dult s , b ut th e s e eds a re o fte n p la nte d in th e v ir g in m in ds o f c h ild re n. C hild re n m ust a ls o b e ta ught to d is ca rd r a ce h atr e d. C ounse lo rs , th era pis ts , a nd o th er h elp in g p ro fe ssio nals m ust d o s e lf – e va lu ativ e in ve nto rie s to p re ve nt p ro je ctio n, tr a nsfe re nce , a nd c o u nte r-tr a nsfe re nce o nto th ose w e in te nd to h elp . B y re ve alin g to o urs e lv e s th ose n arra tiv e s, c rit ic a l in cid ents , a nd p ers o n al s ig nposts r e la te d to r a ce , I a m co nvin ce d w e a re b eco m in g b ette r p re pa re d to a ssis t in a m elio ra tin g th e h um an c o ndit io n. ~~~~~~~~ B y R onald L . J a ckso n II C opyrig ht o f J o urn al o f C ounse lin g & D eve lo pm en t is th e p ro perty o f W ile y-B la ckw ell a nd it s c o nte nt m ay n ot be c o pie d o r e m aile d to m ult ip le s it e s o r p oste d to a lis ts e rv w it h out th e c o p yrig ht h old er’s e xp re ss w rit te n perm is sio n. H ow eve r, u se rs m ay p rin t, d ow nlo ad, o r e m ail a rtic le s fo r in div id ual u se .