Fresh out of college, I got a job at the local paper for a position where hundreds of people applied. An English teacher from South Island School, accidentally blurted out (her face gave it away before she could stop herself), ‘How did that happen?’ Especially when her favourite students didn’t get the job. She was genuinely, unpleasantly surprised that her prized pupils, one being her daughter I think, didn’t get the coveted position. When you experience casual racism, you can question yourself – was I being too sensitive? Was I seeing things that weren’t there? But when its so blatant, you reel back in shock and lose a little faith in humanity.
6th January 20247th January 2024
