There’s a lot of food for thought here, Rebecca. Since only 13.4% of the U.S. population is black, I think part of the problem is that many white Americans have had minimal contact with black people. Their attitudes have been shaped in large part by TV, movies, and what they read. When you drop down to the state level, only 15 states and the District of Columbia have a black population equal to our greater than 13.4%. Nine states have fewer than 1%. I don’t bring this up to excuse racism, but it does explain why a white person might not be completely at ease when meeting a black person. In this era of heightened awareness of racial inequity, I imagine we’re more sensitive than ever, whatever our background, that we are being judged. Of course, we are all constantly being judged for a variety of reasons: physical attractiveness, socio-economic status, religious affiliation or lack thereof, intelligence, nationality, educational level, gender, the list goes on. When we get to know someone, and can appreciate them for their unique qualities, talents, and abilities, some of this prejudgment falls away. Being aware is the starting point. Making an effort to be kind to everyone we meet is a good goal to shoot for.