and let's talk?”. He states that “the impact of racism begins early. Even in our preschool years, some individuals benefit from racism while others are disadvantaged. What I disagree with the author on is when he states that “all white people benefit from racism” (67). Being white I'm not entirely privileged. There are things I take for granted, like walking into almost any store and being able to buy makeup the color of your skin tone or being able to buy hair products. My other identities also shape me. Even though I'm white, that doesn't mean I'm rich, in fact I've been working since I was fifteen and have supported myself financially for the most part. I wasn't given a nice car, nice clothes, and a nice house in a nice community, those things I had to work for, and very hard, I must say. I shouldn't be judged by the color of my skin and automatically assume that I benefit from being white, because just like any other individual of any other racial group, I am a struggling college student In Ronald Takaki's "A Different Mirror" mentions moments in history American in which other minority groups have targeted other minorities. Takaki mentions the Los Angeles riots between Koreans and African Americans. His point is valid when he states, “a black gang member explained that they didn't burn our community, just their stores” (69). During the Los Angeles riots, many black gang members and Korean store owners were at war with each other when a Korean store owner shot and killed a black individual during an attempted robbery. What struck me in this statement was that the black individual didn't realize that he was ruining his community by burning down these stores that belonged to Koreans. The gang member couldn't understand that these stores were part of his community, but since they were owned and operated by Koreans, it was legitimate to damage them. Is there a ripple effect that goes along with the burning of these stores in their community that now that these buildings are in disrepair, who's going to buy them and fix them up now? There were functioning shops and stores and an essential part of the community, but not that they are all destroyed and the Koreans have fled, what is left for the community? The community is left with dilapidated buildings and shops that are no longer functional

Topic > and let's talk?”. He states that “the impact of racism begins early. Even in our preschool years, some individuals benefit from racism while others are disadvantaged. What I disagree with the author on is when he states that “all white people benefit from racism” (67). Being white I'm not entirely privileged. There are things I take for granted, like walking into almost any store and being able to buy makeup the color of your skin tone or being able to buy hair products. My other identities also shape me. Even though I'm white, that doesn't mean I'm rich, in fact I've been working since I was fifteen and have supported myself financially for the most part. I wasn't given a nice car, nice clothes, and a nice house in a nice community, those things I had to work for, and very hard, I must say. I shouldn't be judged by the color of my skin and automatically assume that I benefit from being white, because just like any other individual of any other racial group, I am a struggling college student In Ronald Takaki's "A Different Mirror" mentions moments in history American in which other minority groups have targeted other minorities. Takaki mentions the Los Angeles riots between Koreans and African Americans. His point is valid when he states, “a black gang member explained that they didn't burn our community, just their stores” (69). During the Los Angeles riots, many black gang members and Korean store owners were at war with each other when a Korean store owner shot and killed a black individual during an attempted robbery. What struck me in this statement was that the black individual didn't realize that he was ruining his community by burning down these stores that belonged to Koreans. The gang member couldn't understand that these stores were part of his community, but since they were owned and operated by Koreans, it was legitimate to damage them. Is there a ripple effect that goes along with the burning of these stores in their community that now that these buildings are in disrepair, who's going to buy them and fix them up now? There were functioning shops and stores and an essential part of the community, but not that they are all destroyed and the Koreans have fled, what is left for the community? The community is left with dilapidated buildings and shops that are no longer functional