Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it usually rolled off me. The worst of it often came from rednecks whipping past in rusted pickups. I looked at them and I looked at me-class leader, track star, straight-A student- and their slurs about dirty Indians and drunk Indians and dumb Indians were laughable. Mom says crap like that comes from people who´ve accomplished so little in lifethat they feel the need to lift themselves above someone, anyone. So they pick skin color or religion or sexual orientation and say, "Well, I might not be much, but at least I´m not a ..." I´d look at those guys, and see the truth of her words.
by Kelley Armstrong
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The speaker reflects on their experiences with racism, acknowledging that they rarely let it affect them. The most negative encounters stemmed from uneducated individuals in rundown vehicles, whose derogatory comments about their heritage seemed ridiculous in light of the speaker's achievements as a leader and a student. The slurs they faced, though hurtful, did not penetrate their self-worth.

The speaker's mother offers insight into the motivations behind such racist remarks, suggesting that they stem from the insecurities of those who feel inadequate in their own lives. She believes that these individuals resort to targeting others based on superficial traits like race or religion to elevate their self-esteem. The speaker recognizes this perspective and finds truth in it, reinforcing their resilience against the hate they encounter.

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