There's an interesting discussion on race which has some relevance to your experience-- don't get frightened off by the title of the post, now: http://etaliae.blogspot.com/2006/02/in-which-i-think-about-something-other.html Here's my take: You experienced assumptions about you which were racially motivated. Racist? Reactionary? I'm not sure. Hurtful and unwarranted? Most certainly. Good for you for not losing it completely. On the other hand, I do think that your laughter, while vindicating, might not have been the response to best diffuse the situation. What we as a (ostensibly) power holding majority do and say is mined constantly for potential evidence of prejudice. It sucks, because this constant vigilance leads to so many assumptions of slight. And yet we all pay the price because no-one is willing to talk about race, to talk about intention, to figure out a language to begin to address and diffuse these assumptions. In short, I feel for you, and I also understand the anger the non-white patients in the waiting room felt, and hope you can see their perspective not knowing you and your intention. While I'm being picky, I might also add a cultural difference: In the US an assumption that a patient was faking would never be said aloud in a room of non medical staff for fear of possible medical malpractice suits. (It's possible that a suit due to prejudicial treatment might also be levied, but it's more usual to have sex discrimination cases than racial discrimination cases these days- which says alot about the pathetic state of status quo on race in the US.) Patients conditions are taken at face value and then de-escalated carefully to avoid lawsuit, often in spite of common sense. Huge strain on resources, but hey, that's why it's better to be a lawyer than a doctor in the states these days. Thanks for your insights, as always an inspiration. -Kumachka from across the pond