[darling1]

i too have dealt with this issue and like someone else mentioned, it hurts more when you get it from your family.

for me, i think my out going spirit affords me the ability to deal with people on every level. i tend to socialize more now with people who are progressive academically and socially. it is just comfortable to me. i get annoyed with the haters who want to criticize/judge me or anyone because we speak the queen's english and have move past the 'ghetto' mentality. those folks i simply ignore because they are judgemental fools who don't have a clue.

it is a shame that we even still discuss this, but that is the reality.

i was watching c-span one night and a well-known author and washington insider (i forget her name) told a story. she mentioned that she was in a particular building in the south to do an interview and she overheard 2 maids talking. one maid said to the other "isn't that so and so?" the other maid replied with an attitude, "yeah, that's her. she thinks she something special!"

well ms. so and so approached the 2 women and said to the mean one, "excuse me, but i overheard you speaking about me and i just wanted to tell you know that you better hope that i am something special." she walked away an went on to her interview.

i think that is really how we should approach folks who want to be devisive in their comments. address it, brush them off and keep on stepping. eventually somebody will get the memo.