Was fascinating and I had hoped to hear your perspective - so thanks for sharing with me. (And once again - Mitch, truly, from the bottom of my heart, all these reads...please don't ever feel you need to, with one I'm extremely grateful!!! )

My father who was much darker has some teasing in Trinidad - but it was different..as you said, Trinidad is its own world -- but Dad never talked much it hurting him and I don't think it did --not the way Americans feel.

One of the most emotional and lengthy conversations we had years ago at a dinner we hosted which included Nigerians, Colombians, white Americans, and ourselves - surrounded the topic of racism in the US. I was frustrated and became a bit "heated" because a Nigerian talked about black Americans as though they were of a victim mentality as she just "did not get it" and she as a black didn't feel like a minority (visiting Nigerian).

And that's the thing: visiting or looking from the outside into the US, will never be the same as growing up and living it in for years. That's why it was important I shared - it took me a long time to actually begin to understand the Black American experience and where they are coming from.

Often foreigners who are colored or black do not understand the black American experience and can often be very hurtful.

I'm glad to see that you saw it -- and that because of your upbringing or background, culture? -- not sure what to ascribe it to --- you dealt with it in such a way that you still powered forward. It didn't faze you.

I appreciate you can empathize and understand why blacks feel the way they do, though; it's different for them - and historically and factually it is evident.

Thanks for taking the time -- mannnnn, if you were near, I would have to send a cook-up for you and the wife for all this generous time!

Much love -----Keep well Mitch...have a wonderful weekend!