Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball avoided ethnic jokes. Arnaz recalled that the only exception consisted of making fun of Ricky Ricardo’s accent, and noted that even these jokes worked only when Lucy, as his wife, did the mimicking. That, of course, implies a sense of connection and compassion not often found in congressional committee hearings. It is, moreover, amazing that Senators like Sessions and Coburn – both of whom are notable for their ethnically questionanle comments and for being “caught” in hypocritical statements and positions, saw fit to criticize Sonia Sotomayor using what could be considered an ethnic slur.

Whether it’s in a retail environment, a career or job-search situation, or any one of several areas in which appearances can drive a response, I am beginning to have to question whether it’s my race or my age (and gender) that’s having the biggest impact. And while, like most African-Americans, my insistence on my rights is second nature by now, I am surprised to say that it’s only lately that I have begun to heat up my response when I suspect that I am being dismissed because I am perceived as a “woman of a certain age”.