More than skin deep

The brilliant Harlem Renaissance writer and anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston, is frequently cited for her aphorism, “All my skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.” Hurston was referencing the fact that some African Americans strongly rejected her views regarding how best to advance the race. Indeed, she believed that some were not interested in advancing the interests of Black folks at all. Notably, Hurston’s political views were heterodox — and often controversial. She was a conservative (or, perhaps, a libertarian) who was openly critical of certain civil rights positions that most African Americans warmly embraced. I thought about Hurston earlier this week during a conversation that I had with a Black man who appeared to be a few years my senior (I say “appeared to be” because, well, “Black don’t crack”). I was having lunch with a colleague when the gentleman approached our table to share that he recognized me from my weekly column. Our conversation was brief, respectful, and interesting. We quickly veered into politics, which was not surprising given that it’s a topic about which I write frequently. Among other thoughts, the gentleman expressed distaste for Vice President Kamala Harris. In short, he is skeptical of her for at least a couple...