PROLOGUE

Most sociologists would not recommend that black people interview whites. Common sense says as much. The barriers separating racial groups are immense. Black and white people often relate to each other with fear and suspicion. Hostility is commonplace. Who would think that a white person could open up to a black and honestly express his or her fears, emotions – or talk about deeply troubling racial controversies? And so when Alex Papillon, a black man on our research team, asked me if he should interview white people, I was hesitant.

I hesitated for all the obvious reasons. But I had other reservations about the idea as well. Alex was not a “typical” black research assistant; along with Huey Newton and Bobby Seale he was one of the founders of the Black Panther party. He was active in the party when he was working with us. How many white people would be willing to talk with a known Black Panther?

Alex also looks imposing and asserts himself aggressively. He is handsome, at least six feet two inches tall, and must weigh well over 200 pounds. He speaks his mind in a rather loud tone of voice and minces words with no one. I was concerned that white people might be put off by him and clam up even if they were willing to be interviewed.

Alex is also intensely opinionated. He never hesitated to lecture the people he interviewed about how they should conduct their lives.