I remember that feeling the first weekend that I met my girlfriend.
We were at a conference. I had just recently come to recognize the "white folks" rule. Additionally, I was still pretty certain that I wouldn't ever be able to date a white person again. At least not any time soon. However, I wasn't so disillusioned that I believed that I couldn't even befriend white folks. Besides, I was curious about her. Classmates had described her to me as a liberal who believed that disengaging from the system and removing the liberal view point from the discussion, would only make things worse. It was our responsibilty to stay involved; thus, her heavy involvement in the AMA. I was skeptical. I knew plenty of people who said they were liberal but didn't do much more than vote Democratic.
We were on an escalator in a hotel way to fancy for anyone's good. We were standing on the escalator up from the conference rooms to the lobby level. I stood staggered with my left foot resting on a stair higher than my right and I was turned, slightly facing her. She was standing towards my right. I made a general comment about "white folks." Looking back, I was probably testing her. There was a moment. Then she looked at me and responded. Smart. Calm. Un-offended. The carpet behind the escalator had a diamond pattern.