What I’ve Learned About Systemic Racism Outside of the Classroom
Understanding Beyond Textbooks
In college, I’ve sat through classes that tried to define systemic racism — the theories, the case studies, the statistics. But outside the classroom, it’s never been something I had to “study.” It’s something I’ve lived.
The world doesn’t pause for you to take notes when it happens in real life — when you notice who gets followed in a store, who’s spoken over in a group project, or who’s quietly excluded from opportunities. No syllabus prepares you for the subtle ways racism hides in politeness, in policies, in the spaces that call themselves “inclusive.”
The Lessons You Don’t Learn in Lectures
What I’ve learned is that systemic racism isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like:
Being the only Black student in the room and realizing no one sees it but you.
Watching your hair become a topic of conversation instead of a simple expression of style.
Feeling the need to “prove” your intelligence before you’re even asked a question.
Noticing how “diversity” is often celebrated only when it’s convenient.
College taught me how to recognize the systems. Life taught me how to feel them.
Unlearning and Relearning
Outside the classroom, I’ve had to unlearn survival habits I didn’t even know I carried — speaking softer so I wouldn’t sound “angry,” dressing a certain way to seem “professional,” shrinking in spaces that were never made to hold me.
But I’ve also learned the beauty of relearning: the power of community, the comfort of cultural spaces on campus, and the peace of not apologizing for taking up space. I’ve learned that resistance doesn’t always look like protest — sometimes it’s just showing up fully as yourself.
Holding Space for Growth and Grace
Talking about racism isn’t easy — and it’s not meant to be. But growth comes from the uncomfortable conversations, the ones that push us to question the systems we’ve accepted as “normal.”
I’ve learned to give myself grace on this journey. To rest. To know that it’s okay to be tired of explaining, teaching, or advocating. That softness is also strength — and being gentle with yourself is part of the fight.
Closing Thoughts
Systemic racism can’t be understood through lectures alone. It’s seen in lived experiences, in the silence that lingers after something harmful is said, in the exhaustion that comes from having to “represent” more than yourself.
What I’ve learned is that awareness is only the beginning. Real change starts when we listen — not just in classrooms, but in real life.
