I feel obliged to state the obvious with the following disclaimer: Every black person in the African diaspora will experience white people and racism differently based on geographic location, economic status, education, personality, and overall upbringing. The ideas and connections that follow stem from my own life experiences as a black girl growing up in southern California, who received an excellent education, lived in neighborhoods free of gangs and violent crime, and who has white relatives. I’d like to add though, that regardless of an individual’s awareness or lack thereof, racism does exist , and it can and will affect black people whether they’re aware of it or not. I hope the following essay will be a springboard for open and thoughtful discussion. * ...