Ask Ty...October 26

Q: I feel race was a factor. Why?

- Resident of the State of Florida


Ty: Good question and an even better observation.

Answer #1: You felt race was a factor because race is always a factor. Even when you don't feel race was a factor, it is, was, and will always be a factor; just like sex is always a factor.

Answer #2: Sex, race, and physical attraction are essential automated sorting mechanisms. You can turn on the willful brain and tamp these filters down, but there is no "off" switch.

Answer #3: Keep in mind, though, that context can vary dynamics. For example, there are settings where being a 50 year-old white male makes you the HNIC. But there are others where these three attributes put you at the very bottom of the totem. You can figure the situations yourself. So, having particular attributes (and being able to "play" the subtle attributes finely) can hurt or hinder; reward or punish.

As long as everybody accepts the premise that race will always be a factor, we can begin to make sense of things.

Just a guess!

-Ty