YAY for Diversity!

I Love Black People!!
It's no secret.
I've had many experiences being the only black person in the room and although I can be the "only" now and not give it a second thought, I'm always happy inside when I'm around Black people.

I realized it early on when after a series of tests in the first grade Mr. Nelson, my principal at Leapwood Elementary, called my mom into the office and told her that I was a genius (seriously) and I would be better served if she pulled me out and sent me to Lomita Magnet- the "gifted" elementary school a few neighborhoods over. I remember walking in and not seeing a single kid that looked like me... and I froze. I mean I felt completely out of place. I gravitated toward 2 other little black girls in the class but for some reason they didn't want to be my friend. I was miserable. I cried everyday. My mom couldn't take it and decided to send me back to my beloved Leapwood where Mr. Nelson and my teacher developed a special curriculum for me. Salvation was mine!

Before Lomita Magnet I was never conscious of race. LA is very diverse, every race is well represented and I had just had never been around so FEW black people... I didn't like it.
The next experience was Junior High. My mom was again convinced by the Powers That Be that Curtis Jr. High School- the coolest Jr. High in Carson, Ca- would not challenge me. I attended Curtis for about a week when a space opened up in the gifted program at Dodson Middle School in San Pedro. Dodson was more diverse than Lomita. There were lots of kids like me who were bused in from different neighborhoods. I wouldn't say I was 100% comfortable but I wasn't uncomfortable... it was okay.

I went to high school in Inglewood, needless to say I was plenty comfortable there.

But fast forward to the University of Arizona. This is where it gets good. This is where I could walk the entire length of campus, passing hundreds of people, and not see one other black person. This is where I could sit in a classroom of 30 people and when the subject of race came up, the entire class would wait for my comment on the black perspective, because I was the only one in the room. But this is also where I was able to shake feeling "out of place". I simply got over it. And it's a good thing because since I left the U of A, I haven't lived too many places where I could walk outside and see another person who looks like me... Until Now.
Black people are everywhere! And it's awesome!! I've probably seen more Black people in the 2 months that I've been here than I've seen in the 12yrs it's been since I graduated High School. It almost feels like being back home in Southern California. It's so exciting. I give the "what's up Black person" head nod, and I try to start conversations... I don't have any black friends or acquaintances yet. But that's okay cause my friends are amazing.

In the event though that I see a black person that I want to be friends with, I could use your help with a few pick up lines. I've tried going up to black people and literally saying, "How do I meet Black people?"... I've gotten a few laughs, but no new friends yet. So give me what cha got...