Last week, I had the privilege of completing the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim in Istanbul, Turkey. Out of 2,900 swimmers, Wayne and I were the only African Americans I saw on the course. Now, I didn’t survey everyone but my eyes told me what my heart already knew: we were rare in that space.
As a social capital educator, that reality immediately made me think about homophily – the tendency of people to associate with others who are similar to them in race, background, or beliefs. Homophily is often criticized for creating echo chambers and limiting exposure to different ideas. But standing on the banks of the Bosphorus, I felt something else: while I didn’t see others who looked like me, we were all bound together by a shared passion for swimming.
Ed, Wayne ands Markus
This is where the complexity sets in. On the one hand, homophily mattered. I noticed the absence of others who shared my racial identity. On the other hand, heterophily – the love of connecting across differences was alive and thriving. The people I bonded with during this trip were nothing like me in background, yet everything like me in spirit.
Ed and David
There was Markus, a physical therapist from Germany who taped my shoulder before the race and whose wife kindly took photos for me since I was traveling solo. There was David, a young man from Italy, who walked me through the racecourse and joined me for dinner, where conversation flowed far beyond swimming. There was Wayne, my Bahamian brother in spirit, who shared anxieties and encouragement as two men in their 60s bracing for the challenge. These were not redundant ties in my social world; they were fresh, life-giving connections across cultures and continents.
Ed and Bosphorus Swimmers From Around the Globe
As a social capital builder, I am reminded of two truths:
- Homophily isn’t always a bad thing, after all it gives us comfort and belonging.
- But heterophily expands us, introducing new customs, perspectives, and relationships that enrich our lives.
My challenge now is not just reflecting on these connections but figuring out how to sustain them. With the limits of time and attention, who I choose to stay connected with matters. And for Markus, David, Wayne, and the others who made this journey unforgettable, I know the answer: I want to keep them in my life, because they’ve already left a lasting mark on it.
Until I figure out how, I’ll keep reminding myself: stay connected. And, I’ll keep reminding you to teach your children about the power of social capital too.