Slight Detour Meets ‘Whitopia’ Writer

Review: “Benjamin goes where no (sane) black man has gone before — into the palest enclaves, like Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to those places where white Americans have fled to escape the challenges of diversity” —Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed

In a recent post, Marianne Love/Slight Detour tells of meeting Richard Benjamin, an African- American who visited North Idaho during a nationwide tour in search of “Whitopia,” areas that are overwhelmingly white in a country where whites are becoming a minority. (Benjamin Web site and video here.) Quoth Marianne: ” I remember while driving Rich to our Lovestead, noting that I figured we could be friends for a long time. He agreed. That afternoon after Bill got off work, we walked to the Lodgepole Log, where Rich happily joined our Lodgepole Society. We topped the day off with dinner at Slate’s, compliments of Rich. Bill and I both agreed that we hoped we’d see him again some day. I have kept in touch with him from time to time, and he happily contributed to my blog OhWriteUCanDo, note link address on my list.” Full post here (scroll down). Benjamin’s book, “Searching for White Flight,” will hit the bookstores Tuesday.

Question: Would you like to see North Idaho become more culturally diversified? (How much more?) Or are you satisfied with the current cultural makeup?