What do you do when a lifelong friendship is compromised by racism? In this raw and candid episode, I dive deep into the difficult terrain of friendship boundaries, specifically when it comes to race and respect.

The heart of this episode centers on a listener submission through my "What Would Daijné Do" segment. A young Black woman writes about her 13-year friendship with someone who consistently demonstrates problematic behavior: maintaining relationships with Trump supporters, defending racist comments, and using her as a token "Black friend" to prove she isn't racist herself.

This situation raises profound questions about friendship, loyalty, and self-respect. How many chances should we give people who don't see our full humanity? Is it our responsibility to educate friends on racism, or should they be doing that work themselves? When does the length of a friendship stop outweighing its quality?

I offer my unfiltered perspective: while friend breakups can be more painful than romantic ones, opening that door means creating space for relationships that truly honor who you are. Quality over quantity applies to friendships too – someone who allows racism to slide likely doesn't value you completely.

This conversation extends beyond this specific scenario to touch on universal questions about what we deserve from our closest relationships. Sometimes the hardest but most necessary thing is recognizing when someone's actions no longer align with their words of love and friendship.

Have your own situation you'd like advice on? Email [email protected] with your WWDD request!