Putting the Jerrys, Rikkis, and Leezas,  out of Business

by Heike Boehnke-Sharp

If all multi-racial couples were like us, Jerry Springer, Rikki Lake  & CO would ALL probably be doing psychic readings! We are “boring”!

When I first moved to the U.S from Europe, I used to find their portrayals of Multi-racial couples and families on TV quit amusing, thinking that they must be getting paid to act ignorant. My husband warned me…I didn’t believe him. I was amused until I realized that this is the way the majority of the public in the see and experiences multi-racial families, especially after the whole O.J & Nicole saga. Honestly, have you EVER seen a loving, respectful, professional, yes, dare I say SUCCESSFUL multi-racial couple on TV? 

Ah ha, things are falling into place! We were disrespected openly when we went shopping in sweats or jeans, and weren’t recognized as a couple when were out in our “business” suits. In our case, my husband an Afro-American (we say black, and I will continue with that), and I am white, from Europe. So we also have a multi-ethnic issue here. I was expecting that type of open disrespect when we visited the family in the South, but not here, in liberal, tolerant California! The sad thing is, the trashier and more uneducated the people “dissing” us were, the more they thought it was o.k. to disrespect us openly. Without going into further detail, I have learned to take care of those incidents. 

I was wrong. In the South they are just more open about their prejudice. It may sound strange, but I can see where it stems from there. I cannot accept it. And I can’t keep my mouth shut, one reason we will never move to the South.

We have made roots here and had a child, on of my reasons to start my “Mission of Education”. I believe the reason many people are wary of Multi families is because they don’t personally know any, and they cannot relate to the things WE go through in every day life. I don’t mean just the obvious color issue alone, but also the issue of integrating two different races and colors into one, our different heritage and upbringing.

We are very open about our differences. People ask us questions that are very basic to very complex questions of racism, integration, loyalty and respect.  Once offered a venue, many people are ready to change their opinion and learn.

Cyberspace, convenient travel, telecommuting, foreign exchanges, country disputes, economic and political immigration are making this country more cosmopolitan and diverse. People in little towns that haven’t seen a big city are Internet gurus, seeing the world through their screens. 

The more people let themselves enjoy the beautiful diverse world we have, the less fans Jerry, Rikki and the others will get!

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