I always have mixed feelings whenever I read something like The Black Notebooks. It's not difficult to understand the ways that race affects a person today, and in accordance with our history and everything. On the other hand, I think that when dealing with something as complex as racial bias, sometimes the focus shifts to something that is not really the center of the problem. Take Toi Derricotte. She has trouble forming her identity because her cultural background doesn't complement her physical appearance. She emphasizes her alienation from white society as well, but she insists on living in an all-white community. I guess what I don't understand is why a person would put herself into that kind of situation and then victimize herself for being taken as something she's not. The issue of race lies in appearance only- the greater part of one's cultural identity and such lies with one's ethnicity and upbringing. So maybe you look white- that doesn't make you any less of what you are, even if others see you differently than you see yourself. Many times such incongruance will occur regardless of race. I probably sound insensitive, but I think that her position was one that could have been quite advantageous given the right mindset. Of course I empathize with the plight of racial inequity, but I think it's wrong to gloss all of one's problems into racial issues. The sooner you accept yourself and put yourself forward as simply another hardworking, intelligent individual, the sooner others will do the same.