Gave a talk to a group of students about contemporary artists. The 150 students aged 16-18 were all white except for one boy sitting in the middle of the auditorium. As I talked about the various artists and their strategies, I became self-conscious about those I had chosen to include who deal with ideas of 'race' and identity and colonialism. I was acutely aware of this guy's presence. I felt afraid that he would feel singled out, so I chose not to look at him directly. It was strange. During the talk half of my mind was thinking, considering what the talk would feel like from his perspective.
It was the kind of talk I do often but for some reason, this time, because this kid was in such a minority position, it felt heavier, weightier - and I guess because it's such a privileged school, it felt more significant, somehow.