In response to Sean LaFavor's commentary about his cab driving experience in the March 21 University Chronicle, I am guessing that Mr. LaFavor did not realize how his story spoke of a very familiar form of unconscious racism.
Yes I do feel bad that he got ripped off $30 on his night out as a cabby and I do agree that what this girl did was wrong. What I don't agree with is the way he described her. He identified her as "a young black girl." What did her being black have to do with the story? Nothing!
His story only reinforced the stereotypes put on people of different races. It did exactly what mainstream media does in a case like this; identified a person by her race (in his instance, black) and then slapped criminal and stupidity along with it.
If this were a white girl, would he have said "a young white girl?" I doubt it. This is only another example of the continued need for ALL of us to be educated about racism (and all forms of oppression) so we do not continue to perpetrate them through ignorance.
Natalie Flohrs
Mass Comm./ Human Relations
Junior
