Dating black guy: parents in shock

liontreelion
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:23:08 +0000

When my parents found out I was dating a black guy, they sounded shocked and genuinely concerned, saying things like “be careful,” “I don’t know what’s going to happen to you,” and “you’ve gone down a dangerous slippery slope.” Such comments strike me as racist, which is ironic because we ourselves have been a victim of racism to some extent. I would just ignore them except they constantly bring it up now when I’m on the phone with them and no doubt it will come up during spring break (if I go home that is). I’ve argued with them about their racist views so many times before, provoking hostile reactions, but there’s just no changing them I think because of the colonial mentality that’s very much ingrained in their heads. How should I respond?