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Crossing the Racial Divide: Close Friendships Between Black and White Americans

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Race relations in the US is a difficult topic, given far more to misinformation and polemics than meaningful analysis. Korgen, however, has not only sifted through all of the confusion to present a clear picture of contemporary attitudes and beliefs about race, but she has captured the effects of these patterns on the experiences of people who maintain friendships across racial lines. This book is eminently readable, enjoyable, and timely.

This superb book presents a compelling and at times moving description of close friendships between black and white Americans. Kathleen Odell Korgen's study of how close black-white friendships form despite social and historical obstacles is a welcome contribution to our understanding of race relations. The author explores many interesting questions, including: How does the development of cross-racial friendships compare with same-race friendships? How do black/white friends deal with issues of race? How does a black-white friendship influence each friend's view on race? Korgen's engaging interviews as well as her lucid analysis provide in-depth answers to such questions. The book concludes with an informative discussion of the potential benefits to society of bridging the divide between white and black Americans and provides examples of successful efforts to bridge the racial divide in the U.S. Korgen has written a sensitive, detailed, and important book that fills a gap in studies of race. It is essential reading for those interested in contemporary race relations.