“Brownies” is a short story written by author ZZ Packer, set at Camp Crescendo, a summer camp near the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. The story surrounds a group of African American, fourth grade Brownie girls who travel to this campsite for a camping experience. During the journey, they meet another group of brownies made up of white girls, all of whom are mentally handicapped. “Brownies” is told from the point of view of the first person involved, through an African-American member of the Brownies troop, named Laurel. Since the story is set in the 1960s, ZZ Packer explores issues prevalent in that time period, such as racial segregation, prejudice, and ignorance. Racism is defined as “the systematic oppression of African Americans and other people of color and its consequences.” ideology of white supremacy and black inferiority” (Bohmer 95). “It assumes an inherent superiority or inferiority based on perceived group attributes” (Pachter et al. 61). Racial segregation existed everywhere in the United States during the 1960s, especially in the South where it was required by law. “When you [live] in the southern suburbs of Atlanta, [it's] easy to forget about white people. White people [are] like those baby pigeons: real and existent, but rarely seen or thought of” (Packer 179). Packer conveys the reality of the times very well by creating all-black Girl Scouts and all-white Girl Scouts, but there is no mixing of races in either group. Furthermore, the two troops remain separated throughout the story and the tension created between them is reminiscent of the struggles experienced by blacks. African Americans and whites do not share the same public facilities, including schools…paper…….” We were born racist. Psychology today. November 10, 2010. Web. March 24, 2014. Packer, ZZ. “Brownies.” Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2006. 177-94. Print.Pachter, Lee M, et al. “Perceived racism and discrimination in children and young people: an exploratory study”. Health and Social Work 35.1 (2010): 61. MEDLINE with full text. Network. March 18, 2014. Ponterotto, Joseph G., Jerlym S. Porter, and Shawn O. Utsey. “Prejudice and Racism, Year 2008: Still Strong: Prejudice Reduction Research with Recommended Methodological Advances.” Journal of Consulting and Development 86.3 (2008): 339+. Academic OneFile. Network. 18 March 2014.Racism. Anti-Defamation League, New York, 2001. Web. March 26, 2014. “The New Racism.” Tempo 88.1 (1966): 19. MasterFILE completed. Network. March 18. 2014.