What is the important lesson of friendship from The Cay?use a quote from the book and explain the answer

Theodore Taylor's novel, The Cay,
explores the relationship that develops between a pair of shipwrecked castaways: young
Phillip, and Timothy, a West Indian sailor. Phillip has obvious racist beliefs that he
has inherited from his mother, and he demonstrates them during his observations and
actions after he is saved by Timothy, a native of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
Phillip eventually goes blind during their long ordeal, and he comes to depend upon
Timothy. A bond develops between them, and Phillip grows to love the old sailor. Perhaps
the most important lesson learned on the island is that color has no impact upon the
bond of friendship. Phillip matures during his stay, and his own innate dislike of
African-Americans disappears as he grows to first depend upon and then love Timothy.
Like the old adage "love is blind," in The Cay, friendship can also
be blind.

I
remembered that ugly, welted face. But now, in my memory, it did not seem ugly at all.
It seemed only kind and strong.

I asked, "Timothy, are you
still black?"

His laughter filled the
hut.