Love

There is an old saying that goes, “Love knows no color.” Today, it is very common to see couples of different races, religions and ethnic backgrounds.

But, as I look across our very own campus, I see very little of this.

True, this phenomenon can be attributed to our location. Bigger colleges have a larger racial demographic and is less common at smaller schools like ours.

I am an advocate of color-blind dating. As a grandchild of an interracial couple, I saw firsthand the good and the bad of inter-racial relationships. I enjoy listening to stories of my grandfather and his second wife’s courtships. They told me how, at first, it was hard for her family to accept my grandfather. Being a jazz musician didn’t make it any easier for him either. Growing up in the North, however, did.

Now, I love being in the South. And though I am a transplanted Southerner, I have found that many social issues are viewed differently depending on your geographical location. Interracial dating is one of those issues.

I can never understand why people feel that it was and is such a taboo. We say that “love is blind” for a reason. We promote equality and ethnic unity, yet we still stay singular on so many issues. Someone once asked me, “Why do you date outside your race?” I never thought of it being a strange or controversial question. But I always answered because not only do I learn more about myself, I learn more about different cultures, ideas and views. Our ancestors all wanted us to learn more and to do more so that their causes were not fought in vain.

In the dawn of our new millennium, I propose a change, a change from the cookie-cutter world of dating perfection. Where all you see is what is common on television and in the movies. A change from staring harshly at two people of a different race holding hands. A change from commenting on the fair skin of a mixed child. A change from being ashamed or scared to bring the man or woman you love to meet your family. I propose, simply change. Let us all become more open and really see, but not with just our eyes, but with our hearts as well.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 1 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry