Reading DK diaries yesterday, I saw a lot of different views on the recent Jeremiah Wright incident.  I also saw many people wondering how black people felt about it.

So I've decided to share an IM conversation between myself (black, educated female) and a good friend of mine (black, educated male).

Of course, we are only a snapshot of a portion of the black community, but I'm hopeful that this will give you some perspective on how some of us feel.

Black folks are not monolithic...we don't all agree, we don't all disagree...but those of us who grew up with one foot in the black community and one foot in the 'assimilated' white community live a dual life.

Though I wrote a diary early on about the essence of duality, it was not read by many, and I think it's important to talk about because it's REAL.

Please excuse the poor grammar and colorful language... that's what happens in private conversations. :)

Last night it was late and I was reading through a thread about Dr. Wright's upcoming interview with Bill Moyers. We are on our way through another firestorm of controversy concerning race and race relations and some of the comments and sentiments concerning what Dr. Wright was trying to say became very critical and negative. So I took up my self-assigned role of cultural interpreter and began trying to explain and defend what Dr. Wright was saying in attempt to explain the role of a preacher vs that of a politician, and I found myself feeling very frustrated and tired of having to gingerly tiptoe around these incredibly shallow perspectives that even the most informed whites have about being Black in America, and dealing with the cards we have been dealt. Now this is no play for sympathy, but a further invitation to try to see this thing through someone else's eyes. Anyway, beyond the fold you will see what may seem to be a bit of a rant. I have converted it to a diary in the light of day because I really think in some small way this may help, or maybe not...