I am the "perject juror." I'm "black, but not." (This is not how I describe myself.) I'm mature, black, pay attention, and look and speak in a very assimilated way. Black lawyers want me because I'm black. White lawyers think that because I'm so middle-class looking that I'll automatically be on "their" side. Judges like me because as one told me, "I appear to be 'intelligent and attentive.'" (Yes, one really said that.)

As a result, I am ALWAYS selected to sit on a jury. I don't mind doing it, and even if I didn't want to, I'd have to anyway. The last thing I'll say about it is that you really learn that others live very different lives than you, and that we should be grateful for our privilege.