There have been several times in my life when I was made to feel different because of the subgroup(s) to which I belong. One that sticks out in particular had to do with a situation between a student and teacher. They were having many conflicts in class, which caused the mother to call for several meetings. I was involved because I, as the Special Education Team leader, and the mother was concerned that the accommodations in the IEP were not being addressed. In the last meeting that would participate in, the teacher approached me afterwards and was obviously upset. After a minutes long monologue about how unsupported she felt and insisting that she was indeed following the IEP and that she was an accomplished special educator, she ended by saying “I don’t know if you are afraid of this mother because you both go to the same church.” She alluded to a relationship between the mother and I several times, before I stopped and asked he why she would think that I knew this mother before accepting the job at this school. She suggested that because we were both African American, because the mother mentioned something about praying for her child and this teacher knows that I am Christian as well, and because we had similar mannerisms she assumed not only that we were at least acquaintances, but that we attended the same church. I tried explaining to her that her assumption was offensive, but she ended up continuing to offend my race, my children, my religion, and me so I had to concede and end the conversation. I believe that this teacher and I were operating at the level of Ethnocentricity. I knew what she was alluding to the very first time she made the statement, but I did not want to appear paranoid or as if I had a chip on my shoulder. Unfortunately, I have come to expect comments such as this, and am always bracing myself for someone to be bold enough to say it aloud. This teacher also has some knowledge of black culture, particu