I believe that #5, #6 and #7 of my list responds to the majority of the questions and comments that I have received thus far in this thread. I therefore will not repeat these points, but will say several things about those points-

I reference my race and other people's race on Mudcat for demographical purposes in the folkorist use of that phrase.

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I share my perspective as an African American person and as an African American woman when I believe that is pertinent to the subject that is being discussed and/or expanding on the subject matter being discussed. If others do not see that as being pertinent or adding a relevant and/or interesting layer to that conversation, then so be it. I have to be true to myself.

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When I write on Mudcat, I recognize that thete are a number of people I am writing to- a} a specific individual who I may be responding to and to whom I mention by name; b} the other persons who have posted to that thread; c} persons who may be lurking at that time on that thread {those who reading the conversation but who are not participating in that conversation}; and d} persons who may read that thread in the future.

I have learned and continue to learn from current and archived Mudcat threads on race and on other subjects. I believe that Mudcat threads on race provide opportunities for people to learn from each other. When I start threads on race and on other subjects, I am mindful that reading Mudcat threads may be a learning experience for others now, and years from now. So, I am not writing to [or for] those who have no desire to learn about this subject or those who don't need to learn about this subject.

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Some people wrote that "Mudcat is different for". My title is "Mudcat is difficult for. I don't think that these words mean the same thing.

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The definition of Black that I use is the one that is used by people in the United States. I agree that many Black people are mixed race, meaning that many of us have some White ancestry. I should emphasize that I am talking about a social definition of race and not a biological definition of race. I choose not to elaborate any further on that definition of race in this thread.