I saw two African-American guys at my hotel.

Context
I’m attending the SirsiDynix Superconference, which is being held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Gaylord Opryland is a huge, enclosed facility with a hotel, shops, restaurants, a convention center, and even a river all under one roof. Or one skylight, if you will. I have seen very few African-Americans since I arrived.

Commentary
I always feel like there’s something wrong when I’m in a place that seems lily white. Some of that out-of-whack feeling may come from residing in Shreveport, which is predominantly African-American. However, I also grew up as a member of a racial minority in Mexico City, so I think being in the majority always makes me feel weird.

Yesterday, I would have told you that I was going completely the other way. It seemed like every black face I saw was causing a mental hiccup in me. “What are those people doing here? Are they supposed to be in the convention area?” So, two days away from Shreveport and I become a total racist.

It’s not that simple, though. I had no qualms at all about the two African-American guys I saw today. They were middle-aged, professionally dressed, and out and about pretty early in the morning. In other words, even though they weren’t wearing the seemingly ubiquitous name badges, they looked like they were at a convention. And now that I think about it, I was pretty uncertain about the white kids in the baggy shorts I saw yesterday, too.

The idea that in the United States we are more culturalist than racist is not a new one, but it’s often unpopular. Bill Cosby was quickly criticized for daring to suggest that some African-Americans might actually be bringing negative reactions on themselves by their language and dress. But I’m wondering if we have reached a place that was unanticipated by Dr. King, where people are not judged by the color of their skin or the content of their character, but by the length of their pants and the size of their vocabulary.

I’m not saying this is a morally superior criterion for prejudice, but it is a different one. Without the use of heavy makeup, you have no control over your racial identity. Usually, however, you can control your speech patterns and your fashion choices. Here are some questions I think we all struggle with: How much am I willing to change in order to not trigger the prejudices of people like employers, family members, and random passers-by on the street? How much is it up to them to change instead?

What did you see today?