Looking beyond the color

Interracial relationships present challenges on different levels

by Kasie Hebert

In my lifetime, I have seen numbers of interracial couples. Back when my mother was growing up, you rarely saw people of different nationalities or skin color in a relationship. Some say it was because it wasn't accepted while others say “it just wasn't right”.

According to an essay written by Mark and Gail Mathabane, before 1967, black-white couples were forbid to marry by law. If these couples were to intermarry with each other they would be guilty of a felony.

An even bigger issue of being in an interracial marriage is raising a family. To date, there are approximately 200,000 married, interracial couples living in the United States.

Some people try to hide from their family and friends their relationship with someone of a different race. On the other hand, there are people who are perfectly fine with the world knowing about their relationship.

“Color does not make a person who they are. It takes a person to get to know a person, but it takes a bigger person to swallow their pride and look past the color,” says Junior Chantel Mouton.

Mouton is currently dating a guy of a different race. Mouton says that the hardest obstacle she has encountered throughout her relationship is acceptance from her parents.

Her parents have learned to “look past the color” and grow very fond of their relationship according to Mouton.

No one has the right to tell you who to love or be with.

Just because your mom, dad, or just anyone doesn't like the person your with because their not like your family's race, does that mean they don't love you for who you are?

Love has no limits. You make the decision, not anyone else.