So when I came to US, I had this joke I’d tell people.. I’d say, as a first generation white male immigrant I take all the benefit and no responsibility. I would laugh, indicating I wasn’t serious, people would too. I was a tech worker in San Francisco.

Today I was at a grocery store, after having listened to the latest daily podcast by nytimes on what is happening in the country I’ve chosen to make my home. And I started paying attention to people around me. It felt rude to be observing others shop. But I want to learn

I spent 4 years in San Francisco. I got to know 3 African-Americans somewhat closely. Though I’ve interacted with dozens of homeless people on my way to work through Tenderloin, and most of them happened to be black.

I’m not really going anywhere with this thread, I don’t have a point, perhaps looking for a conversation around this. Consider that most “tech immigrants” will have SF be the city that shapes their first impression of what America is. It’s both wrong and inaccurate.

Yet it can shape a perception. I got Oakland Raiders season tickets and met a lot of fun people while attending the games solo. I was lucky. I was young enough to be willing to make those connections. I’ve let people who looked nothing like myself be a part of my life