Where Does Racism Exist? Is It Here?

Q: Where does racism exist?

Is it in policies and systems? Yes.In families and communities? Yes.In schools, stores, track meets, and social media posts? Absolutely. But most of all, it exists where we choose silence over accountability. It exists where we let pain speak louder than understanding. It exists where we let people profit from hate instead of honoring humility.

Roof Sweatte
Jul 2
4 min read

Racism Isn’t Just Out There; Sometimes It’s Right at the Dinner Table

We live in a world where conversations about race, identity, belonging, and values are no longer optional; they are essential. Tensions seem higher than ever, with violence, racism, and cultural divides becoming part of our daily headlines. But sometimes, the questions we need to ask aren’t just about what’s happening "out there." The real questions start at home in the spaces we live, the people we know, and the experiences we carry.

Take the story of Shiloh Hendrix, for example, a woman who publicly used the N-word toward a 5-year-old Black child. Yes, five years old. Not only did she say it, but she said it confidently, on camera, without remorse. And what’s more disturbing? She raised over $750,000 in public donations from people who agreed with her behavior. That’s not just racism. That’s a movement of hate. It’s a reminder that racism doesn’t just exist; it thrives if we allow it.

Now, I’ve experienced racism firsthand, not from strangers, but from people within the family that adopted me. My father’s mother was racist. I was just a kid, and she made it clear that my Blackness was unwelcome in her beach house. After swimming with my siblings, we weren’t allowed to shower inside. She said, “Hell no! Tell them to clean outside.” That moment stuck with me not just because it hurt, but because it was a message: You don’t belong here.

That was my first brush with racism, not in the world, but within a house that should’ve offered love.

"That moment shaped everything I ended up writing about belonging, identity, and what it means to not be welcomed in your own home. If this piece hit you, read the deeper story in Home Away From Home: Learning to Belong Without Permission, the book where I unpack all of it."

Let’s look at another story: two teenagers in Frisco, Texas. A fatal stabbing at a track meet between Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf. Was it self-defense? Maybe. Was it avoidable? Definitely. Was it about race? No. But somehow, it became racialized. Two young lives, one lost, one forever changed, and over $500,000 raised for the legal defense. The internet became a courtroom, and the trial was less about facts and more about race, emotions, and clicks.

Contrast that with Mykale Baker, a high school graduate who went straight from graduation to his job at Burger King, still wearing his cap, gown, and medals. His story? He raised $20,000. Humble. Honest. Noble. But less viral than violence or hate.

So what does that say?

Hate makes headlines. Integrity doesn't always trend.

Okay, now here’s a personal story, one about a white friend I’ve known for years. A former fireman. An alcoholic. Someone who’s saved lives and nearly lost his own to addiction. He got into a fight with HR before retiring. The HR rep was a Black woman. He told me he called her the N-word several times. I told him straight up: That’s not just a word. That’s an attack on me and my culture. He felt bad. But I didn’t coddle him. Being drunk isn’t an excuse. You don’t get a pass for ignorance, especially when you know better.

Here’s what makes it complicated: this same man has defended me from racism in the past. So how does someone who would protect me from being called the N-word feel entitled to say it to someone else when he’s angry? It’s not just about racism. It’s about power, pain, and the ways people lash out when they don’t want to face their own reflection.

"That's the harder question , not "is that person racist?" but "what am I avoiding in my own reflection?" I built a diagnostic that reads exactly where your own foundation is cracked. It's called Find Your Foundation: four questions, one pillar, no scripts. Take it before you keep reading."

Which is why we have to look deeper.

Not every ignorant word comes from a racist heart. Some come from broken people. Others come from systems that reward hate with money, likes, and headlines. But whether it’s intentional or not, the impact is real.

So I go back to the beginning:

Where does racism exist? Is it in policies and systems? Yes.In families and communities? Yes.In schools, stores, track meets, and social media posts? Absolutely.

But most of all, it exists where we choose silence over accountability. It exists where we let pain speak louder than understanding. It exists where we let people profit from hate instead of honoring humility.

"If you want to go beyond reading and start building something more resilient in yourself, a real foundation instead of a reactive one, that's what the R.O.O.F. Framework was made for. Resilience. Openness. Ownership. Foundation. Every house needs one."

So here’s my call to you: Don't let your character be the cost of your platform. Don’t compromise your morals for a quick payout. And don’t let ignorance be your only legacy.

"Every house needs a Roof" and that roof should shelter understanding, empathy, and growth.

"If this post moved you, don't let the momentum pass. Read What Karmelo Anthony Taught Us and Where Does Racism Exist? They're the sister pieces to this one. Or join me for the next round of I Dare You to Show Up, the 6-week course built on the R.O.O.F. Framework."