We Are Equal but I’m Not Color Blind
April 28, 2009 2 CommentsI briefly mentioned in the “That’s why you don’t have a man” post that I was not ready to try cream in my coffee, although I find men of other races attractive. I am the bi product of an interracial relationship, I support anyone in an interracial relationship, but I am weary of the way the world treats this special breed of love. Times are changing, this weekend I saw a white non-island woman do the Hot Wuk
dance in a competition, and I cheered her on instead of wanting to hurl an empty Smirnoff bottle on the stage at her. In appearance I am a black woman, melanin usually dominates in the gene pool, with any interracial breeding. I’ve had a tough time fitting in, not being black enough, and not being white enough to pass for an Asian. My skin may be light and my hair curly, but my mind is haywire.
I still honestly stare when I see an interracial couple, not necessarily with disgust, but with curiosity. What is it like explaining to your family that the person you chose to love looks nothing like you? Do they genuinely like each other? Or are they together because of a fetish or phase?
I know my mother’s family, as much as they want to deny it, shunned her. We were invited to select family gatherings and my father was never mentioned. I also remember always receiving guilt/lucky money from relatives who felt that donating to my life, somehow compensated for not being there. Not mad at that though, we all show love in different ways. But the tension was apparent.I found that my father’s side of the family was always more opening and accepting of my parent’s relationship, and they still remain so to this day.
You could say that my upbringing has caused me to become complacent. I love black men more than any other race of man because their struggle and glory is so unique. Like Paul Mooney says “the black man is the most copied man on the planet”. Likewise he is the most afflicted man on the planet. Even with all the prison, absentee baby father, black on black crime, and AIDS statistics, discouraging single back women from finding her god, I believe that there are many beautiful black gods to chose from.
Am I completely closed to trying cream in my coffee one day? Who knows! As close-minded as this may sound I would be concerned with how the families would interact. Separate family gatherings are not something I want to go through again. Fortunately, there are many families unlike my mother’s side that are liberal and accept people from all races into their families, this would be the ideal situation, but is it realistic? While the media and most of the world supported the Obama campaign, there was a handful of racist- BLACK AND WHITE people who would have nothing to do with a black president.
I know, I know, who cares about what others think!!!???
That’s ultimately the ideal perception to have and kudos to all the interracial couples that love without boundaries!! A racial utopia sounds fabulous, but newsflash, we are far from it.
GI readers, have I lost you with this post? How do you feel about interracial relationships? Have you experienced any negative or positive experiences that you care to share?
Kumbaya anyone?
Tee’d Off
Relationships, Society
I see nothing wrong with them. Truthfully I envision myself with a sister but sometimes you can’t control who you fall for.
My grandparents were an interracial couple. Great grandfather=Asian, Great Grandmother=Bi-racial. Though I’m a product of interracial relationships for the past couple decades, I personally couldn’t do it. For my ancestors it was tough I’m sure, but it was Jamaica. It wasn’t all that bad. It was still acceptable. I don’t hate on it, but I can’t do it. I think the kids go through too much. Like you said, not Black enough, not white. It’s a tough spot to be in for a kid. I dunno!