Picture it: DeKalb, 1990. Racial conflict has dominated the forefront of society and the college students are slowly losing hope for a bright future full of equality, peace and harmony.

In the midst of all the racial tension a ray of hope is seen in what was thought to be a hopeless situation.

A young college couple, boyfriend and girlfriend, has ascended above the negativity and bonded together. Each is of a different race, yet when they see each other, they don’t see skin, they see soul.

This couple sees the insides of people and not the outsides. They judge from a new age of intelligence. One of an open mind, and the knowledge that we don’t necessarily need to forgive and forget, but that we must keep trying to improve things and moving forward, not holding each other back.

This couple has the brightest hopes for a future when everyone can get along and work together. They have kept their pride but not let it impede good decision making and affairs of the heart.

But, instead of being complimented on their unbiased attitude and feelings for each other, they are taunted and teased, the subjects of a whole different kind of discrimination.

I began thinking about this issue after seeing one of the many talk shows that infest the airwaves each day. Courageous, young, interracial couples stood on stage and told tales of the problems and emotional trauma that they have been through as result of each other, yet survived because of each other. Had I been there I would have stood up on my seat and applauded their effort louder than anyone.

I talked to many people of different races and those that were against interracial relationships had the same reasons as those persons on the talk show did.

The gripe was that they won’t last and the people involved would get hurt. Isn’t that the chance you take in any relationship? Common race relationships aren’t forbidden simply because someone will get hurt.

One woman on the talk show gave the example that there aren’t many golden or silver anniversaries for interracial couples, and thus, that proves they don’t last.

Well, let’s think about that. Perhaps there aren’t many of these anniversaries because interracial relationships are just beginning to become accepted and therefore are now becoming more popular.

Silver and golden anniversaries are for 25 and 50 years. How accepted were interracial relationships back then? Let’s just say they weren’t, and I thank heaven we’ve at least grown the tiny bit we have.

It’s not a white problem, or a black problem, or a hispanic or oriental problem. It’s everybody’s problem, and we seem to forget that when we chose sides.

I’m not telling you what to do. That’s the whole point. We have to stop telling everybody what they can and can’t do. Try to accept things, even if their concepts frighten you. If someone you know comes to you with a similar situation hear them out. If they are willing to confide in you, it must be important to them. And, if they are important to you, give them some credit and try to understand.