In spite of that, she doesn't actually seem to have any Black friends--or at least none who would feel comfortable discussing the deep disparities in their experiences.

Wow, do you? I would rather open my own wrists than initiate a discussion of race relations with one of my black neighbors, if only because they're not under any obligation to educate me when there are plenty of others who are willing to write about their experiences and publish it where anyone can read about it.