What I Learned in My First Week as an ARCC Intern

Before my first week as an intern for the Anti-Racism Commitment Coalition (ARCC), I thought I knew the definition of racism. For me, racism was defined as a hateful ideology that caused acts of aggression, hostility, or indifference (both verbal and physical) by one person or group toward another person or group. Racism was rooted in indifference toward or hatred of a particular race, culture, or ethnicity. As a minority myself, I felt that this definition encompassed not only my experience with racism, but the universal experience of racism as well.

People called me names in school. People gave my family and me apprehensive looks in public. People changed tables if we sat next to them. This definition encompassed all of those experiences, and I assumed that those same experiences were what other minorities struggled with too.

But that definition wasn’t an accurate reflection of racism.

Why?

Because I had never taken the time to actually ask anyone else about their experience with racism. And when I finally took the time to listen to others in ARCC’s DeepDive and Community in Action conversations, I was shocked to learn about forms of racism that I had never acknowledged. Environmental racism, consumer racism, and healthcare racism are just a few of the pressing and prevalent forms of racism that I was ignorant of.

After this week and the opportunity I have had to educate myself and listen to others’ perspectives on racism, I have come up with a new definition.

Racism is racial prejudice against minorities, and every minority’s experience with racism is a part of its overarching meaning. 

In my future as an ARCC intern, I hope to use my passion for communications and journalism to learn about and educate others on the types of racism they may be ignorant of.