[Bond]

Well, I suppose it depends upon how you are forming your own view on racism. If you are basing your opinion on mainstream national news, I would agree that race is still a prominent issue in our society. If you are basing your opinion on first hand experience of living in different parts of the country, then I think you might draw a different conclusion.

We will obviously never completely move beyond racism, but I do believe our generation is, more or less, beyond racism. Not beyond classism. And perhaps not beyond sexism.

I've lived in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin throughout my life. I have also traveled fairly extensively throughout the South. I have not traveled or lived for an extended period of time in the West or Mountain region of our country, but from my experience living in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, I do believe we have moved, or at least moving beyond racism. There will always be pockets, there will always be more racism in the South due to extenuating circumstances, but I believe we've made much progress.

What can I say? I'm an optimist.