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Summary of Question:	Am I A Racist?
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Saturday, 3/25/2006 4:54 PM MDT

I do not think of myself as a racist and I live in a diverse neighborhood. I have always attended schools with diverse student body and have had black friends. However, a few weeks ago, a close relative of mine was murdered during a store robbery by black men for a few dollars. Since then I am beginning to fear black people and I am also incredibly angry at them. I am beginning to question whether I should continue to live in a black neighborhood. I have also seen many people from the Punjabi community murdered by black men in the past few years. I know that not all black people are bad since I know many good black people. But there is still something in my mind that causes me to be angry and fearfull of them. I am having trouble sleeping at night since I am afraid that some black man is going to break into my house. Please help me.

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reply
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Sat nam. Please seek counseling for this. You have experienced a family trauma and you are putting everyone (all black people) in the same basket as a couple of bad apples (the ones who murdered your relative). Your fear is understandable but if you let it consume you then you will find yourself in situations where it confronts YOU, rather than you confronting and resolving the fear yourself. Your rational mind knows I am right, but your emotions and shock are holding your reason hostage--again this is understandable. You are not a racist--at least you are trying not to be. Your anger and upset are driving you into racism, but is that the answer? You have to process the trauma and counseling will help you do that. If you are in USA, UK, or Canada, you should be able to find this through a social service network at minimal cost.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK