Introducing Ashlee Feldman – Real World New Orleans

My first decision to date outside of my race came early on in high school. As it was accepted by many, it was tolerated by most. I was the star basketball player and he was the star football player and so it only made sense we were a couple. However, what was perfect sense to me was not so crystal clear to my parents, but my mother stayed strong to the wise old saying, “if your happy, I’m happy.” As my mother and father were quote on quote “happy if I was,” my grandparents were not all aboard on the happy train.

I can easily recall the days when my grandfather would come visit and be sure to stay in the opposite room as my boyfriend and I. He had no reason to pretend he liked what was happening, as it was wrong and will always be wrong. I can’t pretend as if I didn’t notice, but I never let it affect me. I was going to date who I was going to date and so be it. But, even at a young age and still today, it weighs heavily on my mind knowing that if I do decide to ultimately marry a black man, my grandparents will not attend my wedding. And to be perfectly honest I don’t know how much of my family will be particularly thrilled with the idea, although most have come to terms with it.

Now, as my decisions to date interracially is not only made evident to my family but to all of America on Wednesday nights at 10pm, I have noticed a new found confidence in myself. Interestingly, since my family is now forced to see my dating preferences as its splashed across the television screen, I feel like I am almost teaching them. A small hour long tutorial of how diverse we all are. This is 2010 and times have much changed, I mean this is the real world right?

Continued on page 2 below.