Have resolved same issue by setting color in getView() of ArrayAdapter that populates my list in NavigationDrawer:
@Override
public View getView(final int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
ViewHolder holder;
if (convertView == null) {
convertView = LayoutInflater.from(getActivity()).inflate(
R.layout.side_menu_list_item,
parent,
false);
holder = new ViewHolder();
holder.title = (TextView) convertView.findViewById(R.id.text1);
convertView.setTag(holder);
} else {
holder = (ViewHolder) convertView.getTag();
}
if (mCurrentSelectedPosition == position) {
holder.title.setBackgroundResource(R.color.menu_list_separator_line);
} else {
holder.title.setBackgroundResource(R.color.app_background_light);
}
holder.title.setText(menuItems[position]);
return convertView;
}