Social Anxiety

My girlfriend Madeleine can be pretty awkward in social situations
but a few weeks ago she experienced what she saw as a small
triumph. While walking around a clothes store together we bumped
into a female friend of mine who I hadn't seen in a while. This
friend talked about how she just got a spray tan and a new dress
for the races. Madeleine was no longer intimidated. This friend
was one of 'those people'. Little did Madeleine know that this friend
was actually 'cool'. She had received this title by being uniquely
quirky and dating at least 3 scene heart-throbs. The friend said
something about how the black store manager looked good with
long dreads. She said that "they" (Africans) don't often wear their
hair that way. This comment could have been taken as a racial
generalization but was something that most would let slide,
especially to someone they had just met. Madeleine had a confident
look on face and said "they?!" in her most condescending voice
accompanied by an 'i'm better than you' facial expression. Everyone
was silent for a few seconds. The friend then said how on her trip to
Africa most of the people there had little to no hair. Madeleine once
again raised her eyebrows had said "they?" followed by her
signature hearty chuckle and with a triumphant expression looked
at me for approval of what she had just said. There was more
silence. There was an awkward goodbye. I later asked Madeleine
why she was kind of rude to this girl and she said' "I'm just  really
pleased with myself that I said something".