# The Haircut That Taught Me About Perception vs. Reality

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves-1233851/the-haircut-that-taught-me-about-perception-vs-reality
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves-1233851/the-haircut-that-taught-me-about-perception-vs-reality.md
Podcast: [In The Know with Tony Reeves](https://stenobird.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves-1233851)
Published: 2026-07-15T11:00:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-haircut-that-taught-me-about-perception-vs-reality--72937558
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72937558/9ab39d80_4b75_46ad_b24b_a99c1a16e98d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves-1233851/episodes/the-haircut-that-taught-me-about-perception-vs-reality
Duration seconds: 812

## Resource

Sometimes the smallest experiences become the biggest teachers. As a freshman at the University of Tampa in 1987, all I wanted was a haircut before ROTC. Instead, I encountered racial assumptions, unexpected kindness, and a lesson about perception versus reality that has stayed with me for decades. In this companion episode, I reflect on how one ordinary afternoon helped shape my understanding of race, community, and judging people based on firsthand experience instead of fear or stereotypes. This is another chapter in my ongoing Black Generation X journey. Call to Action If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who appreciates honest conversations about history, race, and personal growth. I’d also love to hear about a time when your own experience challenged what you had always been told. #BlackGenerationX #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth #GenerationX #Podcast Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support .

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## Transcript

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