Ceilidh8

I'm a bit wary of this topic, but my roommate & I shared many interests but strongly contrasted politically. We were brought up with very different values but we became best friends (& 3 years running). I highly doubt you will have an issue solely because of race. Even you're a Muslim of Middle-Eastern descent & he's Christian, you can work it on. College is meant to bring different people together.

SPELondonbrondon

I grew up in rural Louisiana, around about 50/50 black and white people (one of 3 white kids in my elementary school, lived with a black family before, lived with a mexican family before) and I didn't have problems with my Asian roommmate.

The TS is just racist.

Kel2012

Sorry about your problem. I'm from New York City, very diverse city, as any one who's from there knows. So I won't be having any problems with race/nationality. This city really prepares you to become friends with just about any one. I've met a lot of people from different races and got along with them. Just forget about race, we're all people in the end.

JeSuis

Don't worry, guys. It's one of those races it's okay to be uncomfortable around.

Pennylane2011

I think it is harsh to call the OP racist. That can mean a lot. Perhaps he has not experienced a diverse environment and is being honest about his feelings and asking for advice. He has not been critical of his room mate- nor is he unwilling to be his room mate. He could be nervous about a new situation. His room mate could be just as worried about moving in with him.
This could end up great for both of them. OP could realize that his fears are totally unfounded and any preconceived ideas are wrong. He posted here for advice on how to make it work.
This could be a great learning opportunity. Instead of calling him racist- people here who are comfortable with diversity can reassure him.. yes.. we are all people, and the "rules" for getting along with a room mate: consideration, communication, and tolerance apply to everyone.

HarryJones

Leaving aside the question of if this is racist or not, you don't actually have to have anything in common with your roommates. I was in a triple freshman year. The three of us had NOTHING in common. We hung out a lot the first few days, but then we slowly realized that we were nothing like each other and drifted apart, each of us making a different set of friends. Despite this, we actually got along well as roommates, after we set down a few basic ground rules. We also did our best to bring issues we had with each other, rather than letting them fester. We were probably less afraid of offending each other because we weren't close friends.


TL;DR: You don't have to be bffs with your roommate. Just respect each other.

PatheticHopeFul

Oh, God. The OP is not racist for simply being a bit worried about his new roommate. I mean were all a bit nervous at this new point in our lives. I'm African American and I can honestly say that if I had a roommate of another ethnicity (which I do), she might find some of my interest, values, habits a bit different than her own. For instance, I don't wash my hair every day or every week for that matter (and many women of color don't) because I'd end up damaging my hair by stripping its natural oils. However most other people outside women of color might find this odd or even unhygienic when that's not even the case. We all come from different backgrounds and walks of life and what may seem normal to some may be odd for others. The color of ones skin may seem useless to some but in reality it influences many cultural and social aspects of life. I think the OP needs to view the situation with an open mind (not saying that he/she isn't) because he doesn't exactly know what type of person is roommate is.

skittles555

Realize just because someone is a specific race doesn't mean they fit their racial stereotypes or even associate themselves with their culture. I am Hispanic, but I do not speak spanish or know anything about Hispanic culture at all. By looks you wouldn't think so, but I don't consider my personality to even remotely fit the Hispanic mold. So just keep in mind that no matter what race they are, they might live the same exact lifestyle as you. And if not, then you will learn about a new culture. Please just don't immediately stereotype.

ucbalumnus

Why is it the title of the thread?

Would it be correct to guess that you went to high school in an area where there were few or no members of your roommate's racial/ethnic group around?

Of course, all of the people who are members of minority racial/ethnic groups will be puzzled by your thread, since having a roommate of a different racial/ethnic group is the common case for them, although it may not be for white students attending a school in New England.

sseamom

I don't think the OP is racist but like others have suggested is just unfamiliar with other races in addition to being friends with kids who have different interests. From the posts I see here it seems that simply going to college is enough to stress out most kids, so the idea of facing someone you think won't have anything in common with you probably really freaks a few people out.

That said, OP IS concerned about race or it wouldn't be in his title. It might be daunting, but he needs to take a deep breath and just talk to the person and get to know him. It's not true that roommates are your future best friends. They are people who you need to respect and get along with, nothing more. I was closer friends with other people in my dorms or classes than my roommates, but we respected each other and that made it work.

My 12 yo D was at a college campus-based camp this summer and she is a minority. She was one of three black kids in the entire camp and naturally had a non-black roommate for the first time ever. While she bonded deeply with the one other black girl, she and her roommate found enough in common to have a great time, even if she did have to explain why she didn't wash her hair every day.

Pennylane2011

In school, I learned about the hair differences watching my African American room mate fix her hair every night. This was the first time I had a black room mate, although I had lived in diverse college suites before. I am grateful for it as I got to be part of her world and see it through her eyes. I was one of the few Jewish girls in our school and we did share our perspectives. She was a very quiet and private person, but we did bond and I considered her to be a close friend. We have lost touch now, but she would be one of the first people I would look for at a reunion.

CalDud

Eh, I grew up overseas and two of my best friends were black. A majority of my friends I made in college thus far are mexican or middle-eastern. I don't have any problems with that.

It'd be more of a problem for me to have a roommate who is messy rather than someone who has a different religion or political perspective. I'm a pretty tolerant person being mixed myself (asian & white).

Boxer007

I understand him...it can get weird especially if the "other" room mate isn't open minded. But you'll know when you meet.

lookingforward

Haha, not all white gals wash their hair every day or every week. Depends on hair texture.

I worked on a project that brought me into contact with the housing folks, this summer. I was surprised that only about 60% of the matches (computerized) are made based on shared "interests." And, similar culture or background didn't play at all. IIRC, higher priorities were more problematic differences- noise, mess, sleep patterns, etc.

Yenmor

Many people have never been around people of different races on a regular basis. The fact that they would worry about it does not make them a racist.