But for me, he was a means to an end. A beautiful, sweet means, to be sure … but yes, that’s what he was to me. A way to keep the life I had with Eric alive and well … and at the same time, I was absolutely ready to help Tommy out as well. And I did. (Beat.) That boy went to college because of me … that young man now has a job in IT because of me … the time that I took helping him and pushing him to do better … Tommy is what he is because of me and that is not bragging or exaggerating or anything of the sort. That is the simple and undeniable truth of the matter. What chance does a boy like that have in this world without a person like me helping him? (Beat.) He is what he is now because of me, and I don’t mean that in a sort of racial way, either … I am not that person, a person who’d do that or say it or even imply it … look at me. The work I do, the life I lead. It has not always been easy being married to Eric. My father, friends of the family … couples who pass us on the streets sometimes … yes, we have made progress as a people and as a country, but believe me, live this way and you’ll see that I am telling you the truth … we have a LONG way to go. A VERY long way. I’m not talking about the streets of New York City and I don’t mean a new generation of students and young people who have a wonderful and healthier sense of what love and family can be … I am talking about an America that simply does not believe in equality and that’s highly suspect of a black man and a white woman who publicly kiss and say “I love you.” Yes, even today. Believe me … there are still many folks out there who are more than happy to see those marriages fail and whisper behind the backs of the mixed boys and girls of those unholy unions—just ask Eric, my husband. (Beat.) Eric will be VERY happy to discuss this topic with you … believe me. My husband is a smiler and a hand-shaker but inside … in his innermost heart of hearts … he trusts no one. Finds every gesture suspect. Believes all white men are out to get him, and he’s probably right. In some way. In some simple, awful way … it’s true. Eric knows it … I know it … the world knows it … and that is the weight that any man of color carries around on his shoulders today. Still today. (Beat.) There were a few close calls, one in particular that was … well, it probably brought things to where they are today, now that I think back on it … it certainly didn’t help anything …