After we recap Jeanette's trip to Los Angeles and the Critical Mixed Race Studies conference, we dig in on the perception around our "blackness". Along with how we perceived race around us growing up in Northern Virginia, and what propelled our efforts to embrace our diversity after college, we also discuss how our "blackness" is noticeably perceived by others. Finally, we have many thoughts on the comments made by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos about Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Many thoughts.