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As to the racial component of this story, that is something that never crossed my mind until others (rather immediately) pointed it out. Why would the racial component be so apparent to others when I myself, staring at it in the eye, didn't think about it at all? Am I racist (as some people allege) because I wasn't sensitive enough to handle the story differently based solely on the fact that the two men were of Asian descent?

I am still struggling with those questions. I think the answer to the first one is the concept white privilege. I acknowledge that is a factor. As a white male — and especially as a white male advocacy journalist with deep ties to the community — I need to do a better job being proactively aware and sensitive to race. That is difficult for someone like me who was raised to be color-blind (that was the central tenet of "multi-culturism," a strong theme in the curriculum of my southern California primary and middles school). I have to re-train myself to see race and to understand its role in shaping our city and the issues I cover. I know from my experience during the North Williams Avenue project that race is not an easy topic to engage in; but I am open to the challenge.

Source: Bikeportland, An apology and other thoughts on that story

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