Beyonce Halle Berry Combo? Nah. I'm Indian.

My interaction with people from other races usually takes place in very politically correct avenues like NPR, where a lot of people from different parts of the world work. Or when I go do a story, I'm the interviewer and they're my subjects, so race doesn't play a part. So, when I watch movies like Training Day, where I get to see a very bare knuckled look at the African American community, I wonder what they're really like...

So, I decided to explore this phenomenon. "How does a BadBoy-HomeBoy behave when approached outside of politically correct environs by an Indian gal". I had no clue what it'd be like, and that's more of a reason why I gave it a shot.

Hot hot day, I'm doing a story on the record breaking Seattle heat for NPR. I've got my recording equipment ready, I'm walking along GreenLake, interviewing kids, women, teens... When all of a sudden, I see these two BadAss African-American guys chillin under a tree. Huge muscles, bandanas, sleeveless tshirts, tattoos... Total BadBoy look. But Badboys also get hot, right? So, I went to them, asking if I could interview them for the story.

OMG! The guys just lost it. They were soo shocked at seeing me! An Indian chick! OMG! I was probably the first Indian person they'd ever talked to. One of the guys stuttered, "Uh, Uh, so wha... Am I gonna be yon TV or sumthin' " and his pal goes, "No dude, she ain't got no camera. It's Radio bro". And BadAss #1 embarrassed, goes, "Uh, so wha d'yu wanna know, how I'm stayin cool tuhday?" Which is when he proceeded to tell me about his loong naps, and his cold cold beer keg...

All the time, he was talking to me, he just kept trying not to laugh. He blushed. A 30-something man blushed! All those dagger tattoos for nothing! I wonder why he blushed. I mean I'm 112 lbs, petite, conservatively dressed, very polite Indian person. Not some Beyonce-Halle Berry combo!

I t felt like it was a joke or something that he got caught having a social conversation with an Indian!

I've lived in the US long enough to know that Indians and African Americans don't mix much. We don't go marry into each other, we don't name our kids "Jermaine or Jalicia" but we do name them "Joey" or "Jessica". My question is why? What will it take for us to become friends? Is there anything going on which will bring us closer?