New York is just a different game altogether from here, you've got to watch your toes about race the way you have to watch your toes down here if you're American (or an American abroad, for that matter.) The same way you can't say, "Well, in the US!..." because someone will basically use it as an excuse to shut you down, or talk about American Imperialism or Operation Condor or something. In NY someone is guaranteed to start talking about "white privilege".