gnu, if you read this thread you will note that I was not the first person to bring the topic of race into this thread.

Also, the linked newspaper article about this incident introduced the topic of race by reporting that "The incident began at 5 p.m. when a resident said a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses."

After race was already introduced to this thread, I added my posts from my perspective as a Black woman. Doing so doesn't mean that I am a racist. And it doesn't mean that anyone who disagrees with what I wrote is a racist. Nor does it mean that anyone who dislikes my adding to the subject of race is a racist.

And Little Hawk, as I'm sure you know, racism is not just about how a person of one race feels about or interacts with a person of another race. The larger issue is about institutional racism.

I should also note that I don't write just for people who post comments in these threads, but also for people who may be lurking and reading these threads now and in the future. Some of those people may be interested in reading about topics that reference race from a person who is not White.

And I also should note that if there were at least one other Black person or just one other Person of Color who publicly identified himself or herself as such who posted on Mudcat as a member or as a regular guest, I would not feel the need to post as many comments about race on Mudcat threads.

I used to wonder why there were no other Black people or People of Color (who publicly acknowledges such) who were Mudcat members or regular guest posters on this forum.

I don't wonder about that anymore.