I'm reading the Autobiography of Malcom X atm. Every white person in the U.S. should be required to read that book. I make an effort to understand the subtle and pervasive ways that 'white' is given preference to 'black' in this country, but reading the book has made me realize that my efforts are always going to fall short. The problem runs very deep. This one example is indicative, but it is not the problem. It is a symptom. Alleviating symptoms is well and good, but the problem is that we are all racists to a degree in one form or another. I believe that we all are.
Is it your first time reading it? I read it for the first time in 7th grade and again my freshman year of college. I think I'd like to make it a point to reread it every couple of years because it blew my mind wide open each time I read it. I find it very grounding.