Why don't you get some more black friends...

"Derrick, why do you have so many white friends?"..."Do you  feel more comfortable around white people or something?".... "Why are you dating a white girl when there are plenty of single black girls out there looking for a guy?"--- Let's forget for a moment that these questions tend to come from the very people who say they believe in racial equality and reconciliation. Are you really that disappointed in me, or is it that you just fear what you don't understand? There was never a point in my life where I faced any kind of resistance for having friends of a different race, but that was only okay so long as I kept it under "control". It's cool to have a sprinkle of white friends.... just a few to make sure people don't think that your not a black panther or anything. 

I wake up every morning with the intention of making the best of any situation that God presents. I'll make friends with any and every person that God places in my path, regardless of their appearance. I could've become a disappointment to my family, lost good friends along the way, or even become a disgrace to my race, but I can guarantee  you I haven't lost a wink of sleep as a result. I'm not closing myself off to any part of life. Most people may be completely content living in a world where racism still exists, but I will never accept that life. I was raised to be greater than that kind of ignorance. The only reason racism still exists is because people aren't willing to endure the awkwardness, the pain, and the difficulty of befriending a different race.  

Is it hard relating to friends who had a COMPLETELY different childhood from myself? Yep

Do some of my white friends ask stupid questions out of ignorance? Heck Yes

Do I have white friends who get a little too comfortable with us being friends and make inappropriate comments? All the time

Are all of my white friends scared as crap to come visit my church? You know it

Is it weird having friends who have never seen a single episode of "Martin", "Good Times", "My Brother and Me", or "Smart Guy"? Beyond weird 

In spite of all of these differences, big or small, I have made some loyal friendships that I know will be around for years to come. And that white girl... That white girl has been a tremendous blessing in my life, and truly a gift from God. She may not be what you envisioned or wanted for my life, but I can assure that she is EXACTLY what I needed. I fell in love with her heart, not her skin color. I've been introduced to new movies, music, beliefs, and standards that have completely changed my life. The things that I have GAINED have far outweighed the difficulty of branching out past my comfortable life. I didn't do any of this because I was trying to win an award for race relations, but because I was curious to see what God could do with my life if I got out of my comfort zone. I've been leading an amazing life, and a lot of it is due to the fact that I didn't let cultural norms determine my life decisions. 

rights taken for granted

My dad always encouraged myself and those around me to write and use every opportunity to express our thoughts. People have fought, died, and protested for centuries so that I can have the right to speak my mind. I can't promise anything profound, thought provoking, or even entertaining. I'm just taking the advice of one of the wisest men I've known. The pathetic excuse for a journal I've kept for years has only become good for collecting dust and random entries every six or so months. Besides, I've been in the market for a new distraction to keep me occupied. Whether it's a funny story, an interesting conversation, or challenging life trial, I plan on using every opportunity to record my journey living an intentional life. They used to say the most dangerous weapon in the world is a black man with a library card. Let's see what kind of damage I can do with a blog