My Response to a Question I Was Asked
Today my daughter changed her profile picture. A few minutes later, I got a text:
“I didn’t know she was dating a Black boy, did you?”
It took me all day to think about how I wanted to respond. I didn’t send this reply, but I want to share it here—for anyone else who “may not know.”
Yes, I knew. But his skin color does not define who he is. What defines him is how he treats my daughter.
Here’s what I see:
• A young man who shows me nothing but respect. Always “Yes, ma’am” and “No, ma’am.” He talks sports with me, tells me goodbye when he leaves, and never shows a lack of manners.
• A young man who treats my daughter well. He takes her on real dates—to ballgames, to dinner, to fun places. Not to clubs or wild parties.
• A young man who makes faith a priority. Every Sunday he takes her to church, where he plays in the band and she sits with his family. Not many young men these days value that.
• A young man who does not hurt her, lie to her, curse at her, or make her cry.
So, would I rather her date a disrespectful “white boy” just to avoid her being with someone of another race? Absolutely not.
At the end of the day, all that matters is that my daughter is loved, respected, and cared for. He treats her like a queen—something I never had in my own life—and for that, I am grateful.
Credit: Heather Boyer
