Being the Only Brown in an Uber White community

A story I wrote ages ago but never shared. Seems like the right time to share it.

Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash

To set your expectations straight — this is no movie and so nothing dramatic that unfolded.

There were no racial slurs or even any gross misconduct that I experienced.

But there is another deep-rooted problem that I want to discuss — the subtleties of racial discrimination. It isn’t apparent, but it is implicit.

Observing public behaviours in a social setting helps me understand the meaning of race, inclusivity and belongingness. I also understand the significance of the phrase “colour of your skin” at a much deeper level.

Here’s what happened.

So, I went to this strength conditioning workout class wherein there were fifteen of us — fourteen whites and one brown — Me.

I entered the studio, and the trainer welcomed me with a big warm smile. I specified it was my first day after a long break and requested him to go light on me. He was considerate, polite and interactive, which made me feel very comfortable.

However, there were around 14 others in the session along with me — they laughed, chatted and had their own way of motivating each other throughout…