When you grow up, you will fall in love with someone, son.
It shouldn’t matter what colour their skin is, as long as you both are happy.
I was raised with these words and surrounded by beautiful interracial cousins and family marriages. My cousin from Texas is so blonde that her speaking Spanish fluently forces outsiders to do a double take. A niece of mine has the most beautiful chocolate skin that richens with the sun’s kiss, while her cousin’s burns at the mere exposure of it.
Growing up surrounded by different “races” (I use the term loosely because I don’t personally believe in the notion of races) and cultures, I embraced differences and found my own attractions when I grew up. Never did my parents expect for my attraction to be for someone of the same sex. This proverbial curve ball conflicted with may parents’ religious beliefs and shattered some of their long held hopes and dreams. We had many a discussion about the correctness of my feelings and ultimately I decided that it was in my best interest to remove myself if I planned on finding true love.
My beloved is a mix of Russian and Irish, but our society considers him Caucasian or “white”.
I hardly ever think about his skin colour because I love the person inside.
Our cultures are different, but over time we’ve melded into a cohesive unit blended by both.
This morning a friend of mine commented on a discussion about the beauty of interracial relationships and their offspring. My heart hurt when I read:
It just really sucks when people are like ‘You gotta date your own kind.’
or
‘You just want a white/Asian guy because you must hate negros, right?’
…No.
Not…not even close.
Like, my family would roll their eyes at me when I would say that I am honestly not interested in dating a black guy. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not what I want. Even this past month when I told them this guy I’m interested in is white, one of my aunts went on this rant about how I’m just setting myself up to basically be ‘The White Man’s Whore‘ and that I will end up alone and bitter because no guy I’m interested in will ever make me his wife.
That there are plenty of good black men in the world that I can get with.
Sh*t like that really makes me sad because instead of just being happy for me, they would rather try and force me into something I’m obviously not comfortable with…like I’m some kind of racial sellout because I want to be with someone that is a few shades lighter than myself.
I’m a girl who likes to swirl and I don’t think that will ever change. So whenever I see people enjoying their love despite the harsh words of hateful people, it really gives me hope and makes me look forward to my own future.”
I want to reach out and hold this person because this is the real future of our society.
One that doesn’t see color of people, just who they are as individuals.
Replace every instance of white with black or male for female and the ignorance of the statement becomes apparent.
Don’t get mad at ignorance, destroy it by turning around the mirror; force it to think about the words being said.
The future is not lost, but if we allow “race” to determine our destiny, our combined culture will never blossom; nor will love.
<3
