Born a Crime

The animosity I felt from the
colored people I encountered
growing up was one of the hardest
things I’ve ever had to deal with. It
taught me that it is easier to be an
insider as an outsider than to be an
outsider as an insider. If a white
guy chooses to immerse himself in
hip-hop culture and only hang out
with black people, black people will
say, “Cool, white guy. Do what you
need to do.” If a black guy chooses
to button up his blackness to live
among white people and play lots of
golf, white people will say, “Fine. I
like Brian. He’s safe.” But try being
a black person who immerses