A couple of new ones

Three nights ago

I am in the livingroom of my apartment, talking to Eva. She is on her way into her bedroom. There is a woman there whom I really don't know, so I try making small talk with her. She has long, black hair. I am thinking she is a friend of Eva's.

As Eva walks away from us, I ask the woman, "So, how was your Easter weekend?"

There is a horribly long silence, and the woman looks away. Eva pokes her head around the corner of her doorway and hisses, "Melissa, she's Jewish."

I am mortified.

The night before last

I am walking on the campus of my alma mater, and make my way into Scandling. I am late for a meeting--something I was invited to. But instead of going where I am supposed to go, I am on automatic pilot, and suddenly I am in the office of The Herald. Not wanting to look stupid, I take a seat, as if, all along, I meant to be there. Melissa R. is leading the meeting. I look around the room and realize, suddenly, that everyone on staff is white.

A black woman on HWS staff enters the room, and I think to myself, "Oh, this must be the new Pamela Thomas."

Soon after, two other black women on HWS staff enter the room; they all have dreads, and they are all very well dressed. At this point, I think to myself, "Oh, how nice of the administration to send all their token minorities on staff to this meeting."