Last month, I watched in absolute horror as Ami and Justin McClure, parents of the adorable Discovery Twins, have their private lives splattered through the internet for consumption of blood-thirsty, rabid haters. I watched as Justin McClure was accused of being a racist and exploiter of his family. I cried when hateful people dug up very personal and hurtful information about Ami’s past relationships. All of these people who did these awful things felt justified that they were “exposing” this family, whom many simply disliked because the woman is black and the man is white.
Unfortunately, I can see more of this kind of online lynch-mobbing happening to interracial couples with this combination. Black women are really the “last frontier” of interracial relationships and dating, and for reasons you might not expect.
For one, black women have been expected to be the “designated survivors” of the black community while they have watched, for generations, black men date and marry out at twice, and even three times the rate. And when it comes to white men, black women are accused of being “sellout bedwenches” and betrayers of the race. It is a deeply emotional, and sometimes conflicting process to reconcile as a black woman.
Despite all that, black women ARE finding love across color lines, more so than any time EVER in history. Since Beyond Black & White made its debut in 2010, the interracial marriage rate has gone up from around 9% to 12%. That’s a 33% increase!!
But for those who have always taken it for granted that black women would never hazard to find love outside of their race, this trend is extremely troubling for them. Push back is happening in a variety of ways. It could be a social media slander. A public humiliation when you’re just minding your business and trying to enjoy your partner. A threat. A physical altercation.
When I saw what happened to the McClures, I was deeply disappointed that other prominent interracial couples on YouTube came out against them without knowing all the facts, quick to separate themselves to assure onlookers that “we aren’t like them!!!” It was disgusting. Minority communities like ours need to band together and support one another. If you can’t lend support, then lend your silence.
I do not wish to exploit this family any further, which is why this video will never be broadcast on YouTube. The McClures agreed to speak with me because they trust me, and I will not violate that trust. But they also feel like their story may be useful to others, so I’m sharing it with those on our mailing list.
If you are on our mailing list, you should have already received an email with this notification. If you wish to see the video, join the mailing list
here. Watch this with your partner. Talk about how you will deal with hostility and pushback as a team. Maintain community with your own circle of support.
Last month, I watched in absolute horror as Ami and Justin McClure, parents of the adorable Discovery Twins, have their private lives splattered through the internet for consumption of blood-thirsty, rabid haters. I watched as Justin McClure was accused of being a racist and exploiter of his family. I cried when hateful people dug up very personal and hurtful information about Ami’s past relationships. All of these people who did these awful things felt justified that they were “exposing” this family, whom many simply disliked because the woman is black and the man is white.
