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Letter: Racism is baked into our social environment

(Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Protesters stop and take a knee in remembrance of Bernardo on Mains Street in Salt Lake City, during a Justice for Bernardo rally on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

There is no evidence that humans are “genetically programmed to fear difference” as stated by Gail C. Hilton in the June 14 Public Forum.

Instead, racism is pervasive because it’s baked into the social environment, and we’re really good learners. Hilton and other readers who think racism evolved should study the excellent op-eds by Leonard Pitts and Gregory Clark that appeared in the same Opinion section.

These explain very clearly how that learning process works.

Jon Seger, Salt Lake City

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