Growing up, little time in school was devoted to the issue of racism. Sure, we learned about the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr and Rosa Parks. But modern racism was not touched upon. I myself was exposed to a fair amount of diversity and no one I knew was such an outright racist that me, an oblivious kid, noticed.  The attitude was: the civil rights era has ended and things are better.

Which is admittedly true to a certain extent. I am quite aware that my interracial relationship would have been illegal not so long ago and very grateful for the progress that the country has made.

But then… Saturday happens and one peaceful protestor is killed and more are injured at a white nationalist rally and that progress seems to have been for nothing. I wish I was surprised by what happened. But the last few months have seen a president supported by the KKK, neo-nazi rallies, and undisguised hate speeches. The violence this weekend was inevitable.

With such darkness and hate, its hard to hope. But I think it is possible. Throughout my facebook feed, I have seen messages of solidarity for Charlottesville, I have seen the inspiring reactions from President Obama and celebrities, I have read and heard sermons about being a neighbor, and I saw how many cities (including Harrisburg and Colorado Springs) have organized “Unite with Charlottesville” events. I look up to Black Lives Matter and others who protest. I also look at my Sycamore House Community, who are now all in different states now, but are all dedicated in their own ways to seeing and standing up to racism.