People are people...

So I've been running last weeks class through my head over and over and I can't seem to shake the ideas I expresseed at the end of class. When I was asked how I would react to if a white person were to come up to me and introduce themselves to me and say something along the lines of "hey so I've never met a black person before..." I freaked out. But why? Why did this simple question or statement piss me off so much? Just the thought of someone being that ignorant or clueless at any age is a scary thought to me. On even the most baisic of levels I would view this person as a threat. Not because they have a gun but because anyone who thinks that how one should go about meeting people is a fool. Some of my agervation and frustration with this situation is that I don't identify myself as soley black. If you were to ask me what I am I would say I am mixed with half Czech and half Black. I don't identify with one more than the other. Race also wouldn't be the first thing I would state if asked what I am. I am going to put it all on the table and hopefully this will help people really understand me. I typically would state my sexual identity first and then my race "I am a gay, biracial half Czech half Black...I'm a rare sight." Why? To behonest I'm not sure. Perhaps it is because I think people put too much emphasis on race. However with that being said I see all of those things as irrelevant to everything. I feel deep down that I am human. We all are human. I don't personally don't view or judge people on things that they cannot change like race. I think it's pointless and ignorant I feel like meeting a black guy is just like meeting a white guy. I feel like meeting a Jewish guy is like meeting a Christian guy. Do you see what I am trying to say? It's offensive to me for 1) someone to assume I'm diffrent because of the color of my skin 2) for someone to actively point out these perceived differences 3) and for someone to think that it is my job to correct their lack of knowledge or ignorance. 

This is the topic are you willing to discuss it honestly with me?

1st Post

We opened our first class with a broad discussion on race. This discussion quickly turned into one about our personal experiences growing up with race. It was really interesting seeing how diverse our class is! I personally cannot wait for these in class discussions to heat up. I live for the awkward tense moments the ones where peoples true passion and brutal and honest thoughts come out. I want to offend people not to anger them but instead to find these deep rooted problems so that we as a collective whole and find solutions. Nothing really comes out of bullshitting around the problems.