sagaciously is...

is that the blk coworker is allegedly militant. He's my dept's perceived version of Malcolm X - always questioning the status quo, always poking holes at the "diversity policy" (we all know how diverse these environs really are, right?), and always highlighting issues that involve racial tensions at work.

So why is he questioning/justifying my hair? And why is he always the one that questions my hair? Or someone else's use of olive oil to fry chicken (yurgh, btw - but to each his own), or someone else's wearing "Club pants - you know those pants are too tight to wear to work", or my love of bruschetta...all to the tune of "Oh hell - just turn in your black card now".

I'm more curious than irked though. Why DO we do this? Yes, I'm guilty of this too. I have questioned someone that apparently lost their mind, and "forgot where they came from", even when they (like me) may have come from the 'burbs. But why also, do we do this: Validate or try to prove our black authenticity, our negrocity, our african-american expertise by explaining some variant of our culture, at some other's expense? Don't get me wrong - I would've explained to the teammate exactly what I meant (that I change my hairstyle every week), if asked. But I wouldn't have subconsciously tried to prove my blackness to do it.

hm...that's all I got...that and an impending convo to this effect with the militant (it ain't the first, won't be the last, and won't change his mind, but the air will be cleared at least). yep, all I have is another "reality" check.