Mixed Love

I don’t want to say that I would never date a white person but honestly, I would probably never date a white person. Mostly, it’s because I’m already dating someone and that would make things awkward. But also because of the emotional labor that I don’t want to give. Every day I navigate predominantly white spaces with people who don’t understand me. I couldn’t date someone who also doesn’t understand my experiences. I don’t have time for all that. 

So instead I’m dating a brown(ish) person.

My black and brown(ish) love is beautiful. 

Do members of the white side of his family dislike me because I’m black? Of course. Do members of the Peruvian side of his family also dislike me because I’m black? Yes, but haters gonna hate. 

Despite some of my partner’s (racist) family members, dating a mixed person feels like home. Although we’re mixed with different ingredients, our shared roots of being multiracial and ethnic deepen our relationship. While we can relate to one another, we also learn about each other. Our balance of differences and similarities means that things are never stagnant. 

Because my partner is brown(ish), he doesn’t always “get” things surrounding black or brown experiences. Although those conversations are often frustrating, he is open to learning about issues in a way that doesn’t emotionally exhaust me. I don’t know if he’d have the same compassion if he were just white.

Although my partner is partially the oppressor and despite his frequent “white” moments, our black and brown(ish) love makes it worth it.