Hey, when you're hot you're hot -- Enjoy It!

Portland is very good as far as being "tolerant" (I need a better word)

> His family didn't like that I was "too dark"

Well... its not like they can trade ya in for another model.

Dj that's an excellent point. Here's a case in point. I work at a research center that employs about 135 people. At one time I think our employee population was up to 145. There has never been more than 5-6 African-Americans employed there at one time. There has been only one African-American promoted in twenty years and she was promoted from the lowest grade level to the next level (from a worker to a supervisor--she managed about 3 people). She stayed in that position less than a year then quit because of non-support from her manager. There has only been one an African-American hired in as anything but a worker. The lady who was hired as an engineer stayed there about a year and she left too because she could see there weren't many opportunites for A-A's there (also she didn't get much support from her managers either). There are a few other situations I could bring up but you get my drift. All of this has gone on and it seems none of my White co-workers (with whom I get along with perfectly well) notices. It's like they say to themselves, "it's always been this way" so it must be okay. Sure there are Asians, and Hispanics who work there and who have gotten promoted (not proportionate to their numbers) but if A-A's are totally left out, the system is still whacked. I'm working to change that (which might get me booted) but this is just instance that strengthens my claim that racism is more subtle now.

My girlfriend an I don't get the glares (maybe a few from older people, or from people in small Texas towns) but "it's" still around and like someone said earlier it can come from both sides.