Racism is still present in this country. That's such an obvious statement that I feel kind of silly for saying it. However, it seems to be dying a little more every day.

I observe whites and blacks interacting on a daily basis. I have yet to observe an overt act of racism in word or deed when both races are present. From either group. However, that seems to be different among whites, and probably blacks, when there is only one race present. I still hear racist comments when I'm only with other whites. I have hope that it is changing, though.

Most of the comments I hear seem almost like knee-jerk responses. I don't think they are so much really true feelings as things that have been ingrained and come out as involuntary responses. If questioned about some overtly racist comment most people down here will reply that they don't really mean it. I call people out on it all the time. Their reaction to being called out on it is usually to act sheepish and admit that what they said was wrong.

You have to keep in mind that people have been hearing derogatory comments about people of a different color for their entire lives. This seems to be less common as each generation passes on. Time is what will change things. Each generation is less apt to parrot the previous generations views.

I witnessed several things yesterday that give me hope. There were groups of both races that came to the celebration together. I saw groups that were segregated not by race, but by normal societal groupings. Two women walked together, one white and the other black. Their husbands followed behind, carrying on a conversation as they walked.

Following the first two couples were more small groups of strollers that were grouped the same way. The women, of both races, walking together and the men following along behind. The children were mixed in among them. I could see absolutely no grouping based on race. Two young girls holding hands ran ahead, laughing and skipping as they went. One girl was white and the other was black.

There were family groups, sitting on chairs or blankets, scattered around the park. There was no sign of segregation. Black families sat among groups of white families. The opposite was just as common. No one seemed to be congregating with members of their own race. Conversations went on between everyone there, irregardless of color.

The days of whites only drinking fountains is in the past. Yes, racism is still with us and will be for a long time to come, but it isn't the huge divide it once was.