Caveat: I haven't read all of the 300+ postings on this thread. I read the first 50 or so, then whipped down through them, stopping every now and again.

But what I found was that several people did something which is - if you'll excuse me using strong language - outrageous.

They said: "What you experience is not reality".

Azizi, thanks for saying what you're experiencing. I grew up in a racist society, and still notice people's race much more than is relevant. Though less so, considerably less so, now that black people are living in Ireland in increasing numbers.

But it still blindsides me at times. Last week I was in London and wandered curiously into a Quaker Meeting House and sat in the hallway, watching through the glass window in the door of the main room as mothers and teachers played a learning game with toddlers.

I was astonished to see that two of the teachers were dark-skinned - from a Pakistani or Caribbean background, probably. (And the fact that I'd think about that, where I wouldn't bother about the background of someone identifiably 'white', shows that I'm still regarding dark-skinned people as 'other'.)

Black Quakers? What?? Then I started laughing to myself at the stupidity of what I was thinking.

Anyway, I'm wandering. Yes, Mudcat does seem rather bleached, now that you mention it. What about dragging all your black musical friends in and getting them to drag theirs in? The Cat could do with some variety of knowledge and experience.