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148 The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating
I want to stand up for my friend
Hey Terra,I’m white, and my best friend is Latino. We always stand up for each other. Yesterday, when
he wasn’t around, I overheard these jocks talking about him and calling him disgusting names
that had to do with his race. They also talked about “surprising” him some night and letting
him know that he wasn’t welcome in our school.
As I listened to them, I felt scared for my friend and really angry, too. I started thinking
about getting a knife and “surprising” them some night. I’m not a violent person, which is
why I was shocked by how I felt. I probably would never mess with these guys, because they’re
much bigger than I am and might kill me, but how can I help my friend?PeacefulDear Peaceful,
You’re loyal, and your friend is lucky to have you to count on—especially since some people
at your school aren’t open-minded or respectful. It’s natural to feel angry toward the guys who
threatened your friend. I’m glad, though, that you didn’t act out in violence. This shows matu-
rity and an awareness of how important it is to be a peacemaker.
My suggestion is that you immediatelytalk to the principal or a school counselor about
the threats you overheard. It’s really important for a school official to be aware of what’s going
on inside the minds of these guys. That way, the school can talk to them, and you wouldn’t
have to put yourself in danger. (Ask to remain anonymous, so these guys won’t know it was
you who overheard their threats.)
The truth about racial prejudice is that it stems from ignorance. I would encourage you
to use this experience as motivation to start a dialogue in your school about racial diversity.
Maybe you have a particular teacher who would help you get this type of discussion going.
When people of all different ethnic backgrounds start talking about their feelings, they’re
sure to realize that, as human beings, we’re all much more similar than we are different.
I wish you well.In friendship,
Terra