"They say that 3% percent of people
Use 5 to 6% percent of their brain
97% use just 3%
And the rest goes down the drain
I'll never know which one I am
But I'll bet you my last dime
99% think we're 3%
100% of the time"
– Todd Snider
Anytime someone says they're not racist, my first thought is that they're probably racist. Or more precisely, that they regularly do and think and say racist things.
Very few people openly admit to being racist. Unless it's an identity you specifically want to own, there'd be no reason to.
There's also no reason to state that you're not racist. There's a lot to unpack about why, but the main reason is that "I'm not racist" has absolutely no value.
"I'm not racist" involves no commitment, no reflection, no curiosity, no awareness, no collaboration, no nothing.
"I'm not racist" is a meaningless statement. You either do and say and think racist things or you do and say and think antiracist things.
If you're neutral, you're complicit. If you're silent, you're complicit.
Emphasizing your own or others' "non-racism" as a way to prove that systemic racism isn't that bad, or that it only exists here and there, or that it isn't a thing at all is foolish and harmful.
Because there sure is a lot of racism considering how few racists there are.