Race. Color. Class

We had a great conversation today. Actually, it is a conversation that has stretched across the last two days.

Well, maybe stretched across the last week.

Race. Color. Class.

How they fit together. How they stand apart.

I am always impressed by the amount of energy that people have about the very idea of race.

I am even more impressed by the level of energy that black people have when talking about race.

We at this table have had so many disparate experiences of being black.

They are influenced by our geographic origins, age, generation, immigration patterns, education.

Some of us have felt first hand the sting of racist comments and far worse.

For some of us these have come from white people. For some of us they have come from other people of color.

And then there are the things that we get from other black people.

We have lots of energy about it.

The feelings run deep. Middle school betrayals.

Being the token black person.

Asked to speak on behalf of all black people. "Why are your lips so big? Do you wash your hair?"

Working in a group where the one other black person won't speak to us.

Standing up for all the black people in your acting school.

Being the ONLY black person in your acting class.

Yes. The negotiation of who we are in relation to each other.

The awkward ways that people try to bridge the gap.

Is that worse than saying nothing?