By Sonji Young
FOCUS Director of Bridges Across Racial Polarization^®

A few days ago, I bumped into a high school classmate in a local bookstore.  I was surprised to see him, and even more eager to catch up on the time that had elapsed since we last saw each other.  Having attended a predominately black high school, I often wonder how he felt being part of a small minority of white students at the school.  In his unique way, he illustrated his experience as being "the normal he'd come to enjoy". 

After spending his adolescence and teen years in the school district known for its population, most would expect him to jump at the opportunity to take advantage of the opportunities that many enjoy as being part of the majority.  To the surprise of many, he didn't venture too far from his "normal" world.  In college, he went on to join a historically African-American fraternity.  Today, he serves as an educator and board member in distressed school districts, many of which are populated by African-American children. 

As I came to understand the sincerity and compassion behind his decisions, I wondered whether or not representing and defending society's minorities is something that the majority in society feel is important, or whether there only a few, like my former classmate, that truly care about people beyond color and class.

What unseen or taken-for-granted advantages are there of being in the majority?  Would you give those up in an effort to put everyone in society on equal footing?