Annabeth sat down at her desk for Dr. Chiron's lecture on racism in literature. Given the current events that had happened, he had decided to change up the class schedule a bit. Annabeth appreciates how Dr. Chiron wasn't one of those inflexible professors who had to stick entirely by the schedule on the syllabus. He reacted to current events and even had a suggestion box for lecture topics.

      As the rest of the class filed into the classroom, Dr. Chiron pulled up a PowerPoint titled "Racism in Literature." The class settled down and Nico flicked off the lights.

      "Racism and prejudice is an old human condition," Dr. Chiron said. "Something as pervasive as racism can only spill over into the confines of literature. Literature reflects and explores the topics of the time it was written on. Now, I do not want to make this a lecture, but rather open this up as a discussion."

     Annabeth parked up. She wasn't the only one. A few students who had been slumping over on their desks looked more awake and others exchanged excited glances with their neighbors.

     Dr. Chiron smiled slightly. "Now that I have your attention, would any of you care to discuss why racism exists?"

      Several students raised their hands. "This is a free discussion," Dr. Chiron said. "You are all adults and I trust you can all participate without the raising of hands."

      Several students exchanged smirks as their hands fell to their sides. "Racism exists because of fear," Nico said. "Fear is often born out of ignorance, but the thing with ignorance is that you don't always know you have it."

     "I think racism stems from the government and the media," someone else said. "People are taught to be racist. It's in our school curriculums as much as math and language arts."

       "That is true," a quiet student named Hazel said. "They teach us that the Civil War was over states' rights when it was about slavery. They don't teach us that Missouri was the last state to abolish slavery. Some schools even try to sanitize and justify slavery."

     "I think that's because people love to make others into demons," Percy said. "If others are demonic, then they can convince themselves they are angels. Racism serves as a self-serving bias for those in power."

     "I have to agree with Percy," Annabeth said. "Racism and prejudice is all about power, but like Nico said, it's also about fear."

     Hazel nodded. "That's why we're taught racism. Those in power fear what life would be without it."

      "I just don't get it," someone said. "Why would they? I mean, I don't think racism is a problem after the whole Civil Rights movement and abolition."

     Hazel and Nico exchanged glances. "Bryce, Racism is definitely still a problem," Hazel said. "For example, people are always surprised that Nico and I are brother and sister."

     "You don't look alike," Bryce said.

       "Yeah and you don't look like an angel," Nico retorted.

     "Racism does still exist," Hazel said. "Why else does the Southern Poverty Law Center track hate groups? Why else do black people face harsher treatment by police officers? Why else are there racial disparities in health, wealth, and education? Racism is as American as apple pie and until we face it, we're letting a worm ruin our dessert."