LYNDON- Patricia Shine, an Associate Professor of Human Services held a presentation at Lyndon State College to discuss racism in Vermont and how it affects everyone.

The presentation started off with Shine's definition of racism, "Giving one group privileges while it targets another."

She listed reasons for why most people won't openly discuss race.  She also pointed out that racism is more than rude intentional comments and actions, but it comes from people making assumptions about others based on race, even if it is just a thought and isn't said out loud to anyone.

Shine says "If we don't see how our institutions are racialized, if we don't see how our culture is racialized, then we're not going to make any changes for the better. If everybody who said racist jokes all of a sudden one day stopped, would racism end? No. The systems to perpetuate this inequality continue on and on."

Shine worked with race issues throughout Vermont on a recent sabbatical.