I have been inundated recently, within the confines of my new job,

being the night clerk at an inconvenience store, with aspects

of what is known to the media as "Urban" culture.

Now, "Urban" often is a euphemism for African-American.

Well, the store I work at is known within the district office

as a "ghetto" store.

Great shock there.

But it's truly pan-racial and even international.

Yet, once again, as I have observed while performing other

retail tasks over the years, and working in factories,

there is a pervasive sense of conformity.

When you have a plethora of people wandering in all hours

of the night dressed alike and asking for exactly the same

products, over and over again, it is hard not to

assume that there is a mental block among many of them

preventing them from developing their own individual style.

It becomes irritating after awhile, because it seems,

in my experience, that I don't understand the subtle variations

on the themes because "they all look alike" to me, because

I am White.

Well, I have the same thoughts and feelings about White people.

I very often have no idea why they dress, speak and buy as they do.

And what would a White person's perspective on my ignorance

be?

"You're think you're better than us."

pause

Hmm. You may have a point there.