INTERVIEW: Tanner Colby, Some of My Best Friends are Black

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/SOMBFABcover.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:217;s:4:"file";s:24:"2015/03/SOMBFABcover.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"SOMBFABcover-336x95.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:95;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"SOMBFABcover-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-600x217.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:217;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-470x133.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:133;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-600x217.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:217;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-600x217.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:217;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"SOMBFABcover-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:138380;s:14:"optimized_size";i:88601;s:7:"percent";d:35.969999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/SOMBFABcover.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:74669;s:14:"optimized_size";i:41138;s:7:"percent";d:44.909999999999997;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/SOMBFABcover-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3659;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3576;s:7:"percent";d:2.27;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/SOMBFABcover-600x217.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39510;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28787;s:7:"percent";d:27.140000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/SOMBFABcover-300x217.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20542;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15100;s:7:"percent";d:26.489999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1637512701 
1379635200

90.3 WBHM Birmingham– Sometimes world events make people look inward. As Barack Obama campaigned his way to the presidency, self-described lily-white writer Tanner Colby began pondering — and then tenaciously researching — exactly why he and other white people didn’t have black friends. The reasons are complex, ranging from school policy to real estate practices to media image-making to church politics. But the former Vestavia Hills resident dives right in from the springboard of his own life, recognizing his ignorance the whole way. The result: “Some of My Best Friends are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America.” Our Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen caught up with Colby not long after the author appeared on MSNBC to discuss America’s persistent racial separation. A partial index of subjects and time markers is below.

1:53 — Carsen asks Colby about his comparing white people to cats.2:47 — Colby talks about his time in Vestavia Hills schools, where he noticed a quieter brand of racial self-segregation, compared with overt racism of today.4:42 — Colby breaks down “blockbusting” and other fear-based, profit-driven real estate practices that gave rise to the myth that black residents lower property values.

8:02 — A discussion of how federal government policies contributed to urban blight.

10:07 — Colby explains “redlining,” which cut blacks off from mortgage capital.

11:00 — The advertising industry (and media stereotypes) as a window into our culture.

12:35 — Colby’s thoughts on racial separation in church, past and future.

13:30 — Overblown fears of a “majority-minority” country?

14:56 — Where the solution starts…

 

Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Are you a caregiver for an adult? How has it changed you?

Many who care for family members and loved ones at home say it can be very stressful but also rich in meaning. Share your story and insights.

Here’s how Trump and the GOP may try to weaken Obamacare

Republican control of the White House and Congress sets the stage for potentially seismic changes including curtailing Medicaid, weakening patient protections, and increasing premium costs for millions.

Richer countries are starting to pay poorer ones for climate change damages

With climate-related disasters getting more extreme, richer countries are piloting ways to compensate developing nations, since they bear the least responsibility for causing climate change.

Most of the country shifted right in the 2024 presidential election

In 2020, President Biden won six of the seven closely watched states. This year, President-elect Donald Trump won all seven — plus he will got a majority of the popular vote.

More Education Coverage