Race.... Now that I have left Japan after 16 years, I have begun to do a lot of thinking around why I stayed there as long as I did.

One of the interesting things I have stumbled across is that of Race. The beautiful thing about Japan is the same thing that this culture used to promote its rage against the world in the 1940's. It's unique pride in being Japanese and all things that are culturally Japanese. There is an unspoken pride here. So much so, that for those of us who are not Japanese we realize that we all are just plain Foreigners. Black, White, Indian, Pakistani, British, South African, even Chinese, all foreigners... period. You are either Japanese or you aren't. It is that simple.

I was having a drink last night with a friend who 1. is white, 2, is british and 3, speaks Japanese fluently. We were discussing life her since he has been here almost 20 years as well. We began talking about the whole "Black" thing that exists in the U.S.. You know blacks taking care of fellow blacks, or more specifically an incident he was involved in when breaking up a fight between some white guy and a black guy. The all knew each other, but alcohol was involved and when tensions broke out and the black guy was pulled out by my friend to have him calm down and tried to rationalize with him. The black guy claimed "If I don't do anything then it will be all of your white fists reigning down on me later." I was amazed when he told me this. What the hell was that about?!? It was a gaijin on gaijin fight. No Japanese involved so there was not really the thought of a cultural conflict. But he brought his American mentality of racism into the mix. My friend (british guy) was so pissed when he was hit with the U.S. race card.

My friend started asking me what the deal with that was. That is when I got a bit frustrated because I really am not sure if I understand it. You see, being half white, born in the U.K., raised in the military and not really having grown up in the "hood" I don't think I will ever really understand. But I do know that because I look more black I have been lumped into a race category of black. That is o.k., I have always been in this position and have accepted it as my first race. I guess the thing is, growing up, I never realized I was black or anything else, I was just Rik. I had white friends, Korean friends, black friends and it was all good.

That all ended when we left the military and at the age of 14, I was enrolled into a public school outside of Philadelphia. That was when I saw the race gaps up close and personal. Blacks clinging to blacks, whites with money hanging with their own and that was the way it was. No one talked about it, or questioned it. I had to assimilate. I began to meld into the black crowd since visibly that was where I was more accepted.

It wasn't until I joined the military myself that I realized this type of thing also really existed in the military. Don't let anyone ever tell you that race is not an issue in the military, it is. Now when it comes to going to war or doing your job, it is not an issue at all. You are really the band of brothers and the job gets done. It is when there is down time or when there is no ware that it is the most evident. I remember when I reported to my first unit, they were living in an open squad-bay (big room lots of bunk beds and lockers) About 48 people living in one big room together. When I went in the first thing I noted was that there was no assigned racks like basic training. You basically grabbed the bed where you wanted to. But when I looked around something startled me. Everyone one was grouped. Latino, Black, Redneck, White were the larger groups. Again, I was assimilated into the black section based on looks.

I don't regret any of it, I am saying I didn't understand why society has to group based on physical appearance. Most of my best friends are black, I have rhythm now, and I continue to be a huge fan of black music and culture. In most outward situations, I am black. But I look at all people as humans with different cultures that have interesting bits and pieces that I want to know more about.

In the end one thing I have been able to develop because of all of this is the ability to meld into a situation and be whatever the moment calls from. I can go into a black club and be black, go into a fancy restaurant at a posh white country club and emerge unscathed. I have gone to Hawaii and with the change of a shirt become a pineapple eating local. Or been in the Philippines and been compared to the likes of Ricky Dabau a famous Philippine actor. Spanish, Puerto Rican, Philippine, Hawaiian, Black, I have been mistaken for them all. A regular Chameleon. But I guess that is why I have managed for so long and love traveling the world. I just love people and the more I can experience, even if that means melding in the moment's surroundings I have done so. In most cases not intentional, it just is how I have managed to fit in throughout my life. I assimilate the culture I am confronted with. Good, bad or ugly, it is me, and how I navigate through this life. Problem is, within the black community, I do run the risk of being labeled a sell-out. Hell, look how long it took for some to turn on Bill Cosby. Now that is confusion in a race.