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Interracial friendship |
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 I'm a people watcher. It's not something I'm particularly proud of or embarrassed by, it's just something I do, and surprisingly, learn from. Among my observations is the fact that our college campus is much like a high school in that the student body has assembled itself into distinguished cliques. Only, unlike high school, these cliques aren't based on sports or hobbies, they are based on race.
Somewhere near the end of spring break I found myself stuck at a bus stop in Flint. To make a long story short, my mom ended up giving myself and four exchange students a ride back to Saginaw. As these acquaintances became friends and their friends became friends, I found myself on the inside of a clique that was not my own and I loved every minute of it. However, in the back of my mind I always wondered why I was the only white girl accepted into this group of friends.
Turns out I wasn't the only one wondering something along those lines. One day one of the guys in the group turns to me and says he thinks I am one of the only white girls on campus with foreign friends. My first reaction was to laugh but he assured me he meant it.
This is when my perception of the clique problem began to change. I like to think that racism is something that is slowly disappearing, something that is almost gone, but the fact is that it still exists or at the very least we are afraid it exists in others even if we believe it doesn't in ourselves.
While I sat wondering why the exchange students didn't like American students, they sat wondering why American students didn't like them.
I know it doesn't apply to everyone. I know there are mixed groups of friends out there and students of all races come to programs such as the International Food Fest and Intercultural Night. But my question is this: do friendships last beyond these special occasions? When you sit and number your very best friends, do those outside of your race make the cut?
For some of us the answer is yes, but for an alarming number, I would venture to say the answer is no. If the answer is no because you are afraid that those who are different dislike you for your differences, I think it is time to take a chance. If the answer is no because you have become comfortable in a long-standing group of friends, maybe you would consider a change. But if your answer is no because you really do dislike those who are different than you, then I'm sorry for you and what you are missing out on.
I could go on to list all the benefits of interracial friendships including learning about other cultures, but the list would be so long it would need another article. And besides, half the fun for me was learning the benefits on my own and I wouldn't want to steal that away from anyone.
Tags: Dating Interracial friendship |
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