‘Black Don’t Crack’ Isn’t Much of a Compliment

It’s more like a stereotype gift-wrapped with a bow

Photo Illustration: Save As/Medium; Source: Dan Niculescu, Getty Images

“Youth is wasted on the young,” some say. Thank God a little of it was left over for me.

I’ll never get tired of being reminded that I look younger than my middle age — if only that flattering observation didn’t come with a less-than-flattering racial qualifier: “Black don’t…