<p>As one datum, I’m fairly cautious about discussing issues of race with people I don’t know very well. There are a number of minefields and assumptions to be negotiated and I think most people don’t want to risk giving offense. And then there are always projections that may or may not be true. I was musing on this just yesterday when I was at a food court and was just finishing my lunch and saw a black man with young daughter & son walking by looking for a table. I stood and called out to him, “Here’s a table, I was just leaving.” I was surprised to see a look of surprise in his eyes and then we chatted for a moment about young daughters as I picked up my tray. What I don’t know and never will is whether or not that surprise was rooted in any racial component or not, or that it was just <em>anyone</em> was giving up a seat for him and his kids.</p>
<p>Another pointless anecdote brought to you by…TheDad.</p>