White Perspectives on Racism in FIRST

[smurfgirl]

For all of the white people commenting that you haven't observed racism in FIRST, I invite you to question why that is. Is it because it doesn't exist widely, or at all? Or could it be that we have an observer bias as white people, because whatever racism that does exist isn't directed toward us?

The analogy for me is how I hear repeatedly again from men that while they may agree that sexism in STEM still exists on a greater scale, it doesn't exist "here" (wherever here may be). Sure, they might not see it because it isn't happening directly to them, but I see it because it happens to me.

White people can't be an authority on whether/how much racism there is in FIRST. We can educate ourselves to become more aware of the existing problem, and we can serve as partners in overcoming the problem.