Relationship Week - Making Friends #3

 Relationship Week - Making Friends #3

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/40-percent-white-americans-cant-say-their-best-friend-black-or-asian-or-hispanic/312374/

Okay, I have stated I want some diverse friends.  

But, that isn’t as easy to do as to write about it.

The Atlantic article (linked above) says:

“According to a new poll from Reuters, four out of 10 white Americans surround themselves exclusively with white friends. The poll also found that "25 percent of non-white Americans are surrounded exclusively by friends of their own race" and that, in all, "30 percent of Americans are not mixing with others of a different race, the poll showed."

“Geographically, the poll found that California and the Pacific states are where people have the most diverse social circles, while people in the South were the least diverse in choosing their buddies. And when it comes to race, Hispanics have the most diverse friendship circles, with 90 percent of those polled saying they had a friend of a different race. "Hispanics and Asian Americans have traditionally had less strict lines about integrating," a sociologist explained to Reuters.”

It (having diverse friends) just doesn’t happen!!!  

So, I’m reflecting on how to get diverse friends - especially black friends.

 

In the past, many (most?) of my friends came from work.  (and were awesome friends)!!!  But, I’m no longer working.  Will, maybe I can make friends from the groups I am in. Well, my bridge group is all white; (and we haven’t met since March).  My granny basketball group has one black lady - but we haven’t met since March.  My church is having services - but has specified that we must wear masks and every other row is taped off - and no social gathering before or after. 

So, where might I come into contact with some black women that I would like to be friends with?  I could go to a black church, but I’m not sure if they are operating (there is a black Baptist congregation in Georgetown.  

Could I take out a ‘personal ad’ on the Nextdoor Neighbor site - asking for a black friend?  Would that work?

Scenario:  White woman, age 73 wants a black woman friend - contact me at <karenwhite_more@gmail.com>.  

If you were a senior black woman - would you answer such as a personal ad?  If it was the other way around “Black woman wants a white friend?” Would I answer the ad?  Probably not.  I’d probably be thinking “what kind of weirdo has to advertise to get a friend.”.

How about in the community?

The library seems to have had various discussion groups about race and diversity in the past - but COVID seems to have shut many of those down.   The local university might also have similar groups of race and diversity - but would they welcome a 73-year-old white woman to the group?

To be a good friend, you have to be one.

So, hmmm … I guess I’ll keep trying (but, along the way, I also have to keep in touch with my excellent longtime friends too!!!)

And, an old Girl Scout song:

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver, the other is gold.

And, another thought  - grow or die, there is no such thing as stagnate!!  (I’m choosing to grow).

LOVE WINS!!

Hugs!!

Karen