I know people laugh about what Rodney King said, as in “Can’t we all just get along?” but truly that is the question isn’t it?
I look at my son’s two best friends who are black, and don’t see any of that tension or anger and I am so glad. They are great young men who have been a part of our family for many years.
I can understand why your friend feels the need to hide her intent to vote against Obama, the backlash would probably be fierce to admit anything other than support for him.
My daughter’s best friend until a sophomore in HS was the sister of one of my son’s best friends. They all grew up together and spent hours and hours together. When they were sophomores in HS they were on the basketball team and my daughter was the only white girl. The other girls were brutal to her and her friend was told when she stood up for her that she would get the same unless she stopped.
Sadly, she did and eventually my daughter quit the team and their friendship fizzled.
“Sadly, she did and eventually my daughter quit the team and their friendship fizzled.”
Unfortunately I think that is usually the fate of such friendships; there are many forces at work every day driving people apart along ethnic lines, and they’re fairly effective. One of my sons has a black friend at school (there are only about 10 black kids there, mainly from Africa), and I don’t like the idea that if they have a fight my son is in a different position than the black kid in terms of the racist label, punishment and such. It really is a shame that it even enters our minds today.
On the other hand, the kids know one of my friends that I watch soccer with on the weekends is black (he’s British - an Arsenal fan); they’ve met him at functions and don’t think it is unusual to be around them in an environment where there aren’t many.
My co-worker is already being shunned because some of our black co-workers heard her listening to Rush.