"I've never heard a white man talk about impostor syndrome. I haven't met one."

[H2O Man]

84. That's great

Whatever works for you is fine by me.

It was in my grandfather's middle adulthood that the Irish Catholics were deemed "white" by WASP society. It was in my lifetime that there was anti-Irish Catholics in the area where I grew up. And I have heard similar echoes of that aimed at parts of my family, who are black, brown, yellow, and red.

There is some degree of privilege in my status. If I get pulled over for speeding, I am confident the police will approach and treat me differently than they would the black and brown nephews I have. When I was young, I had another privilege: as they were first generation, a significant number of my father's 13 siblings were in law enforcement or intelligence. Hence, as when I was young was the only time when I ever drove fast, when pulled over, I had an advantage. After looking at my license, most cops would say, "Are you ________'s son?" I'd say, "Oh, you know Dad?" I would get scolded for speeding, and it would disappoint Dad should he find out. I've never been at risk for being shot due to skin pigment.

I am in frequent contact with my relatives in Ireland. I have real concerns about some of the news coming from the Old Sod. There is a lot of hate being focused on non-white immigrant communities, including from some family members. It is as if they have forgotten our relatives killed in The Troubles. Learn to appreciate and respect people who are different than you are. Things go better that way, for in violent times, everyone suffers.

I've never cared how anyone else self-identifies. Whatever works for them. Nor have I ever cared about what people who don't know me catagories me as. I will say that, with nothing to do with how you identify, much less than how others do, I think you are a good person. And that's all that counts.