(quick tempo piano music)
-Everybody has some kind of prejudices.
I thought I was getting good information,
but I was seeing people being portrayed
in a negative way, mostly like minorities.
Black crime, bad incidences.
It started reinforcing negative stereotypes.
I had the TV on, it was C-SPAN.
This black woman was on talking
and I started watching her.
I decided I was going to ask her for some advice.
Um, I'm a white male and I am prejudiced.
- I thought, oh boy, what kind of racist
rant is coming at me now.
But I also thought I'm so glad that
he's just admitting it.
Like now we can talk.
- [Man] What can I do to change?
You know, to be a better American?
- When he said that, I felt called to help him.
Thank you so much for being honest
and for opening up this conversation
because it's simply one of the most important ones
we have to have in this country.
So what can you do?
Get to know black families.
Turn off the news at night.
Read about the history of the African-American
community in this country.
Foster conversation in your family
and in your neighborhood.
When I gave Gary those ideas off the top of my head,
I didn't think he was going to follow them.
- I'm a disabled veteran.
I live in an isolated place in the South.
Segregation was almost yesterday.
I struggled with prejudice and racism.
Everything she suggested sounded easy,
but I don't know if she realized
that it's very difficult.
My first conversation following
Heather's advice was uncomfortable
and my nervousness showed through.
The poor fellow didn't know where I was coming from
or why I was bothering him, but it was
the experience.
It was a learning process.
I went into the African-American Studies section
of the bookstore and I opened a few books
and I made a little stack.
I went to the counter.
I said, "I'm working on not being prejudice."
So we're right where?
- We're at Eagleston.
- [Gary] Right in this corner here?
- [Man] Yeah.
- That's an amazing looking building, man.
Was it something else before?
- [Man] It used to be a little club.
We used to call it Death of Rail Wood.
- I live here and I did not know that.
Now I'm doing my own thinking for myself.
It's nice to have this new knowledge, this new start.
(knocks)
- Look who stopped by.
- Hey Gary.
- This is so great.
- It's good to see you buddy.
Alright, here's my present for you.
Ready?
So this one is actually all about white people.
- Okay.
I'll put it in there.
- It's Everyday White People Confront
Racial and Social Injustice.
- I knew you'd pick something good for me.
- I can legitimately call Gary a friend now
and that is the last thing I thought.
I believe that to be a better American as Gary said,
it actually takes getting out there and knowing people
who are different than you.
- I feel like I wasted a lot of life.
I think of all the people that could have been added to it
or how I could have been enriched a little bit.
I'm not proud but I'm not going to be ashamed
because I'm working on being different.
- Getting to know Gary on his walk has taught me a lot
about who we are as humans and our capacity to change,
it's given me a lot of hope.
We've all got to do a little bit of what Gary is doing.
Take some stops.
Do something to get out of your comfort zone.
Keep up the good work.
And get to know people who are different.
I'd like to hope that in the story
of the unlikely friendship between
the black woman on TV and the racist caller
that there is something for all Americans
to have a little hope.
There is something that connects us
beyond our differences.
- It's difficult to step out.
You can have setbacks.
But in the end, you're going to be a stronger person
for conflict resolution.
You're going to be a stronger person for tolerance.
You get all that just from shaking somebody's hand.
Am I your friend?
We are friends.
Alright then.
Thanks.
(light upbeat music)