> I try to be aware of and avoid that kind of double standard--referring to
> people 'like me' as 'people' and people 'unlike me' as exceptions. I
> think it's a natural, but often harmful, habit. I have observed in myself
> a tendency to notice black people's race in particular, where race doesn't
> occur to me usually when seeing strangers of other races (I am white)...I
> think this is probably largely because there are so few black people in
> the town I grew up in, but it irritates me as a mental phenomenon.
I've tried to avoid these references as well, but I find it interseting
when, in describing a third party, I'll say,
"You've met him. He's about my size, a little taller, curly hair,
has a loud laugh, wears a lot of flannel..."
"Hmmm, no, I don't think I've met him."
"He's black."
"Oh, him!!! Yeah, we talked for hours. He's great!"
(sigh)
-Prof. Tim