(Left this same comment at PP too, but want to leave it here as I feel this is a seminal post, Will. Thank you for writing it.)

I know exactly what you’re talking about. And it has absolutely nothing to do with political correctness; it is simply a cultural reference point for you. Like you, I went to (S.C.) public schools until graduation from high school. The first time I ever stepped into an all white classroom was when I went off to college. It was strange. I felt I had been shipped off to Preppy Land. I never did really feel entirely comfortable in an all-white environment, despite being a priviledged white chick. And the first time I visited a NE state, I just kinda looked around and felt like blurting out, “But where are your black people?” To this day, I miss the bond I shared with my high school best friend, a trash-talkin’ black dude. We got tossed out of French class together on a regular basis — always for laughing too much.