and my point is that remarks such as yours would be dismissed out of hand if they were directed at *any* other group but American blacks, notwithstanding all of the qualifications you made in your initial statement. White people tend to take these kinds of liberties with us because of the 'special' historical relationship between blacks and whites in this country. The fact that they often do this unwittingly does not make the behavior any less galling for blacks.

You may feel put-upon as a result of my pointing this out, but it does not change the fact that it is true.

After all, this debate isn't about you.....right?