Whether race/sexuality/culture influences one's interests actively or passively I don't know, but generally a set of one peoples' most common interests differs from the set of another peoples' common interests. It's been my experience that all it takes for me to click with someone of another creed is to share a common interest. It seems too basic or obvious, but I think the mind needs just that push of familiarity to break down most, if not all, barriers.
That's actually a really interesting point. I have never really thought about it that way. But at the same time I can argue that someone who is higher up on the financial or social latter might refuse to believe or admit that they have a common interest with someone below them. Do you think this is a mindset that can be broken down?