[a fool in paradise]

Johnny Otis did pretty well for himself passing himself off as black.

Otis was born to Greek immigrants Alexander J. Veliotes, a Mare Island longshoreman and grocery store owner, and his wife, the former Irene Kiskakes, a painter.[1][4] He had a younger sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Nicholas A. Veliotes, former U.S. Ambassador to both Jordan (1978–1981) and Egypt (1984–1986)). He grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Berkeley, California, where his father owned a neighborhood grocery store. Otis became well known for his choice to live his professional and personal life as a member of the African-American community.[5][6][7] He wrote, "As a kid I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black."[8]

[BBell]

Thank you. I’ve not heard of Johnny Otis before.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Big difference with Mr. Otis. He is quoted as saying “IF society dictated that one had to be black or white, I WOULD be Black.” Words matter. Both parts of the sentence are in the subjunctive, which here is making a “contrary to fact” thought.

A well known expression of the same sort is: “If my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a truck.” But she does not have wheels, so she’s not a truck.