Dealing with a Family that Doesn't Approve of Your Interracial Relationship

It can be very difficult when you find yourself in love with an individual of whom your family doesn't approve, especially when their sole reason for disliking the individual is his or her race. Yet, this is exactly what many people find themselves dealing with when they are in an interracial relationship. They may even feel as if they are being asked to choose between their significant other and their family. However, if you are in an interracial relationship and your family disapproves simply because of your significant other's race, then you might want to think about it as being asked to choose between your significant other and your family's belief system, which you obviously don't agree with.

As a child you were probably told that it is important to stand up for what you believe in, however, this idea can often be thrown right out the window when it comes to a family objecting to your interracial relationship. You, however, need to evaluate why your family is objecting to your relationship, and if it is based solely on race, you need to take a stand.

It can be really hard standing up to your family, who, up until the beginning of your interracial relationship, has been very supportive of you and your beliefs, can be very trying. You may feel guilty for attending family functions where your significant other is not welcome. You don't have to completely cut off your family to stand up for what you believe, but you will have to, at times, make a decision between your family and your relationship.

If you stand firm in your belief that there is not reason that two people of different races shouldn't be in a relationship together, then you will have to make this belief clear to your family. It may be necessary for you to boycott large family functions until your family is willing to invite your significant other. And once your significant other is invited, you will want to make sure that you don't leave them floating around the function on their own. If your family makes rude comments to your significant other while the two of you are at a family function, you will want to leave promptly. It is important that your family sees how you feel about both your significant other and their beliefs regarding interracial relationships.

When calling your family to tell them what is going on in your life, you will want to tell them about how your interracial relationship is going, or mention your significant other when you mention events that you two did together. Don't cut your significant other out of your stories. If your family members simply ignore the mention of your interracial relationship, you can allow them to do this, but make sure that you are consistent in mentioning your interracial relationship when you talk about your life. You don't have to be outspoken about the issue, if that is not the route you want to take, but you do need to be consistent.

Standing up to your family when it comes to your interracial relationship may cause some awkward moments, and it won't be easy, but if you truly believe that there is no reason that two people of different races can't have a successful relationship then it is necessary to stand up to those who are against you. If your family truly respects you then eventually they will come around. As my mother told me when I discussed my father's side of the family disagreeing with my interracial relationship, "It is one thing for them to dislike someone they don't know, it is another for them to dislike someone that is loved by someone they love."