I traveled extensively in North Africa and the Middle East, but long before your trip in 2013. Nevertheless, I’m reminded of my fellow Air Force officer’s impression.

Juliette is Black, the daughter of wealthy African immigrants to the United States. She grew up financially and educationally privileged, attending an elite prep school then graduating from the Air Force Academy.

But that privilege did not isolate her from toxic racism in the United States, which she could be quite bitter about. (For excellent reasons given some of her experiences in the military.)

I’ll never forget her epiphany in Jerusalem as we traveled together with a couple other friends. I’m paraphrasing here because I don’t remember exactly what she said but it went something like this, “I’ve never been anywhere like this where my Black skin did not make me a target, even while other dark-skinned people were targeted.”