"That, I Can't See" is a poem I wrote to exemplify some of the things my heart and mind can't comprehend about being in an interracial relationship in this world. I chose to write this poem after the rest of my research because I wanted it to fully capture my frustrations with this world and the church. I understand what I can see and I don't understand what I can't see. 

All We Ever Wanted Was Love

I can see and feel that I am being judged by those in his race and mine. No laws can protect you from that type of social judgment you'll face. Time may go by, but there will always be people who go out of their way to try and make you feel ashamed for who you love. Everyone deserves love without judgment though. Racism engraved so deeply into this society of ours, does not help matters at all. Raising my voice to speak out against racism, many times, causes more harm than good to everyone else. All we ever wanted was love. Color affects both his life and mine in so many different ways, but it shouldn’t affect our relationship with each other or you, God. I don’t think I will ever be able to comprehend why so many people are bothered by us being together. All we ever wanted was love. Losing people in your life because of the race of the person you decided to love, doesn’t make any sense, God. 

May I ever see a day that I don’t have to worry about him getting home safe without me being in the car with him? All we ever wanted was love. Remembering how many people have had to hide their love breaks my heart. Remembering those who fought for their love in the past, to allow us to have the ability to legally participate in holy matrimony together, is an honor. I can’t believe that our world is still, so rooted in hate. All we ever wanted was love. God, guide those who are against us into people who love us as you do. Everyone deserves to love whomever they want without judgment. 

~   Isabella Brunory + Meshach Giroux 

"All We Ever Wanted Was Love" is a poem my boyfriend and I wrote, about things that come to mind with our relatioship, that of an interracial one. We went back and forth sharing our fears and frustrations and decided to write this as though we were talking to God. In times of darkness and hate, people urge you to turn to God. But what if the church itself adds to your darkness? After doing research I learned that a lot of interracial marriages are less religious in devout becuase statistically those who attend church more are in less favoring of interracial marriage (4). This makes sense becuase as a result of being in an interracial relationship, attending service in a church together is extremely uncomfortable for us and has altered our relatioships with God becuase of the way we are looked at and treated. This is a peice representing that frustration and what we hope see changed.