Sula raises issues that are often ignored, like the question of class differences among African Americans. The principle characters, Nel and Sula, share age, race and gender, but not class-the most significant challenge to their friendship. Students benefit from their professor's extensive research on the topic. According to Cole, the way American society is structured, as well as prevalent cultural attitudes about differences among people, serve as barriers to cross-difference friendships. Look at the fact that 93 percent of top executive jobs are held by white men.
Black people are dumb.
These are all obstacles. And yet, some people do develop and sustain friendships that cross race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation and physical ability and disability. Class participants have turned the lens on themselves, studying their own cross-difference friendships. One student from Jamaica who identifies herself as a Christian looked at her friendship with a young Jamaican man who is a Rastafarian. A heterosexual female student analyzed her relationship with a young gay man.