Listen to two Seattle residents reflect on how racism is perceived in the Pacific Northwest. As black women, they observe how white Seattle-ites constantly question whether racism actually occurs in Seattle and microaggressing Black Seattle-ites into second-guessing their experiences. This gaslighting is especially prolific in the University setting, where both women describe how they have experienced racism at the hands of the academy and have to endure the “Ivory Tower” in spite of those experiences.
But if there is something that will make the world a better place, then it’s going to be education. But it was here at the university that I learned some of the MOST racist people are the MOST educated people.
In this emotional discussion, these two women express not only their exhaustion and pain but also their resilience and inspiration in seeing older Black academics pave a path and persist with younger Black academics following suit.
