I am upper middle class Italian/Irish American. When I was in college and living in a dorm, one day in the cafeteria, one of the workers, who was Mexican was serving me. She gave me my plate and then said " I know you're passing, I won't tell anyone." At the time I had no idea what she meant. Now I understand she thought I was also Latinx and was "passing" for White. That was my first experience with what my race / ethnicity meant and it took my years to realize it. Looking back, I wish I had understood and could talk with her about it, but I never did. Now it just makes me sad that I didn't understand and didn't know what to do. I was the epitome of the "clueless White girl." So I can see that now, but know there are still blind spots I have but I'm not sure how to find them other than trying to realize them through trainings like this.
