This week has resulted in my being startled by very vocal, racist remarks. On Monday, a very dear friend of mine was the victim of such vocal racism. While riding in an elevator with an older woman and a young girl, my friend was called a “gook.” This term was not used in anger against my friend, but was sharp and jarring none-the-less. The older lady in the elevator turned to the young girl and matter of factly stated (while pointing at my friend), “That is a gook.” Out of shock, my friend did not respond. She told me it was the first time in her life she can recall someone using that term in her presence to reference her directly.