As you think about the characters Nafissa Thompson-Spires has created in this story from Heads of the Colored People, you might reflect on how people try to hide their identities or even try to be someone they are not just to fit in with the crowd.

This idea stands as a point of conflict between Riley and Brother Man. Riley tries to hide his race. He wears blue contacts and bleaches his hair. He does not hate himself exactly, but he is playing a role to try to fit into a white society. Brother Man, however, thinks that Riley is compromising himself even though Brother Man, too, often enters into the "white world" because of his interests. Both of them are educated, and they represent two different ways of coping with identity and race. Brother Man is bitter and self-conscious. Riley is more flexible, but Brother Man bothers him because he touches some place deep in Riley's conscience and forces him to face what he does not want to. Life is complex for both of these young men.

Now think about your own experiences. Perhaps you are someone who often hides or denies your identity to fit in with the crowd, or maybe you know someone who does. Think about your motivations for this (or your acquaintance's motivations), and reflect on how the story helps you better understand what is going on.