I remember working with a Japanese American graphic artist when we were the staff artists at the University. We had great conversations on the job while we worked. One I remember was about identifying and being identified by being a member of a group, whether that is Catholic, white, female, Japanese, American, Irish or whatever. It "matters" to know someone who has walked in your shoes, experienced the way people respond to the group with which you are identified, can relate to your life experience because they have shared the same experiences. Does it matter in what way? Appearance doesn't define us in some ways but it does in others, as people definitely still have prejudices, and we will have life experiences because of other people's prejudices.