Supporting through thin but not through thick

While reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley, I came across this observation by a young Malcolm about well-intentioned whites. "They'll be there to support you during thin, but not during thick."

Malcolm rejects the patronizing compassion of whites towards black. How often am I guilty of the same!

I meet a need and I feel good about it, but ask me for more--ask me to hang out, ask me to be your friend--I don't know about that.

The best kind of friendship is a mutual sharing of joys and pains, a relationship between two equals. What we need is more friendship, not charity.

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