The other day, I was reading a segment of  “The Forest and the Trees” by Allan Johnson. While reading this, he began to discuss the strength of individualism is society. In his discussion, he says “People tend to think only in terms of individuals, as if a society or a university were nothing more than a collection of people living in a particular time and place.” Looking inward on myself, I found this to be undeniably true. On a surface level, the motions of the students and staff at NC State appear to be individualized. However, this is not true. As Johnson points out later on, the actions of an individual are a result and catalyst for the actions of others. Were the professor of my Calculus class to not arrive on time, I would not be in the given lecture hall. If I did not come into the dining hall or pay money to get in, then the dining hall would cease to exist, as it only functions as a dining hall when myself and the staff are using it. This idea brings about a strong sense of interconnected-ness, despite the belief that we function as individuals. Beyond this is another topic which carries more gravity than whether or not I get to eat dinner. Racism is long held to be an individual struggle. In “The Forest and the Trees,” Johnson points out that many white individuals claim “I’m not racist, so its not my battle to fight” and then feel hurt when they are told otherwise. I will not deny, this has been a point of view of mine for quite some time. When the subject of racism comes up, I feel in some way excluded from it, since I don’t partake in anything which would be deemed racist. But that is not the case. Like the existence of the dining hall, racism is a societal dilemma which is perpetuated unless actively opposed. As a white male, I benefit from the resulting privileges, and what I do with those privileges is extremely important. My decision to either laugh at or criticize a racist joke is my decision to accept or fight the status quo, and reading Johnson’s book has brought to light just how impactful my actions can be. Though I may not be racist, it is my responsibility to make sure change is enacted, because society is interconnected, and the idea of individualism is one which is not productive in the context of promoting equality.