As a white person in her 60's, I had always assumed that America was a meritocracy. My parents told me I could do anything, be anything, that the only barrier was whether I'd work hard enough. Seeing how this positive image of possibility was denied to those of color breaks my heart and shakes me to my core. As I have grown older, I've seen the cracks in the system, that it isn't truly a meritocracy for everyone, that it in fact blocks out those who are not white...and I'm left wondering how to build a different system which does not privilege whites, which does not reinforce white supremacy. There is so much I need to learn, and it's almost frightening thinking of how much the things I thought were true were false. Humbled and convicted...
