Quote:
Originally Posted by Patradomous
Would that be a black woman or a white woman?
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I can tell you what it's like to be a pregnant white woman - but I honestly wouldn't attempt to tell you what it's like to be a pregnant black woman.
I would imagine the experience is different. Just like it was totally different to be a married pregnant woman and and unmarried pregnant woman, I would think that being black or white would also make a difference.
You can claim that you understand totally what it's like to be something or someone else, but the truth is, you can't.
I've had the rather illuminating experience of being viewed by others as both a Christian woman and a Jewish one. In many instances one is treated entirely different by other people.
I would not have expected nor did I anticipate the difference in treatment and yet I cannot deny that it exists or that it continues to baffle me because I know that I am the same person regardless of my last name or where I worship or what day of the week I keep holy.
But if you think it does not matter to some other people or that it does not change the way they treat me, you are sadly mistaken...and I can pretty much assure you that it would be the same for people of a different color or ethnicity.
The old Indian adage about "walk a mile in his moccasins" if you want to understand someone sums it up perfectly.....you can't possibly know what it's like to be someone or something other than what you are.