I read this short story in high school and have been trying my darndest to figure out its title but am coming up short . . . all I can remember is one distinct scene in which a young white boy and his young black friend are sitting down to a meal at the white boy’s house (this story I believe took place sometime during the 1950s-1970s). The white boy’s mother is polite but condescending to the black friend. I remember a bit where the white boy was fussy about finishing his lunch, but the black friend eats up everything. The mother says something like, “Oh good <black friend’s name>, I’m sure your parents taught you good and well to eat all your food to grow up strong.” The friend says something like, “Oh yes m’am, my dad always taught me to finish my plate.” The mom then responds, “Oh, I’m sure he needs to eat a lot to do all the hard labor that he does at his job.” The friend then innocently reveals that his father works in construction, but is the foreman, and the mother is nonplussed.
Any help with this? I’m racking my brain, because I’d really like to read it again.