THE LOVING PROJECT

2017 marked 50 years since interracial marriage became legal across the United States. Over the course of the year, we’ve spoken to 50 different people – 25 couples – about what it’s like to be in an interracial marriage today. In this, the final regularly scheduled episode in the series, we take a look back at favorite moments from those interviews, and look at common themes among the stories. We’ve heard stories about reactions from family members and from the community; ways that couples in interracial relationships have learned to think about race in America differently, and how they’ve learned to navigate the world together in new ways; and some of the new traditions that are formed when individuals with very different backgrounds come together to form a family. We want to thank all the couples that have shared their stories over the past year, and we hope that you’ll continue having conversations about these topics in your own lives. -Brad & Farrah

Jen and Ermias Jen is white and grew up in Philadelphia, while Ermias is black and Eritrean. They met in Eritrea in 1995 when Jen was there as a Peace Corps volunteer. They had a long distance relationship for a while and just when Ermias was on the verge of leaving to come to the US, war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea. They eventually got married shortly after the war ended in 2000, although it took another 5 years before they were able to move to the US together. They now live in Philadelphia with their two sons. In this episode of the Loving Project podcast, Jen and Ermias discuss the experience of coming together during a turbulent time, learning to deal with racism in America, and why they recently moved their family to Ethiopia for a year.

Jean and Mas have been together since 1972 and married since 1992.  Jean is white and was raised in Rochester, New York. Mas is Japanese-American and he was born in an internment camp during World War II and grew up in Seabrook, New Jersey. Both longtime civil right activists, Jean and Mas met while they were both working for the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. In this episode of the Loving Project, Jean and Mas talk about how their different backgrounds affect the way they communicate and how they’ve learned to navigate the world together.  

Ken is Irish and Mee is Korean-American. They met when Ken flew from Ireland to the United States for a friend’s wedding, and the two quickly hit it off and began a long distance relationship. For a couple of years they flew back and forth between New York and Dublin to spend time together. The turning point in their relationship was September 11; as he watched the Twin Towers fall, Ken realized he didn’t want to be thousands of miles away from Mee. Soon thereafter, the couple began the emigration process and Ken moved to New York. They now reside in the suburbs of Philadelphia In this episode of the Loving Project, Ken and Mee discuss the immigration process, the similarities and differences between Korean and Irish culture, and raising biracial children to appreciate both of their parents’ cultures.

Joshu and Marleny met online in 2011. After a potentially disastrous first date, they hit it off and eventually got married in 2014. They now live in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood. Joshu is white and Marleny is black and was born in the Dominican Republic. She grew up speaking Spanish the fact that Joshu is a fluent speaker helped him quickly and easily integrate into her immigrant family. In this episode of the Loving Project podcast, Joshu and Marleny talk about how their relationship has helped them better understand everyday racial dynamics and their experiences in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election.

David and Belinda David and Belinda were part of each other’s worlds before they even met. David would ride his bike to and from work in Pleasantville, NJ and Belinda would occasionally wave to him, a passing stranger, as she drove by. It so happened that they worked for the same company and later met at a training event at work. Although Belinda was initially reluctant, they eventually began dating and then got married in 1985. The couple has 3 children; the two oldest are from a previous relationship of David’s and the youngest is Belinda’s biological daughter, whom David adopted. In this episode of the Loving Project, David and Belinda discuss the ways in which their relationship has broadened their understanding, what they’ve learned about cultural differences, and how their unique personalities and backgrounds come together to create a balanced relationship.

Lisa and Kevin Lisa is white, and grew up in Northeast Pennsylvania. Kevin is Korean and was raised in Western Pennsylvania by his adopted parents, who are white. They met in Philadelphia, got married in 2009, and now live in New Jersey with their two young daughters. In this episode of the Loving Project, Lisa and Kevin discuss their unique family, the incorrect assumptions people make about them and their children, and the complexities of racial and cultural identity that can come with trans-racial adoption.

Len and Fernando met and started dating in 1981 but they didn’t get married until 2014, over 3 decades later. They literally fought for the right to marry; they were among several LGBT couples who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit that resulted in the legalization of same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania, a year before the US Supreme Court decision on marriage quality. Len is white and grew up in Vermont; Fernando is Cuban-Chinese and grew up in Florida. They live in Philadelphia with their adopted daughter, who is African-American. In this episode of the Loving Project podcast, Len and Fernando discuss what its like to be part of a multiracial, multicultural family; how their differences enrich their lives and relationships; and why it was important to them to get involved in the fight for marriage equality.

Jen and Shawn met in 2004 under sad circumstances when they lost a mutual friend. Eleven years later, they got married and now live in Lansdowne, PA with their 2-year-old son. Shawn is African American, and grew up in South Philadelphia while Jen is white, and spent her early years in Central Pennsylvania before her family moved to suburban Philadelphia. In this episode of the Loving Project, Jen and Shawn discuss raising a biracial child and how people respond to their multi-colored, interracial family.

Courtney and Kate Kate and Courtney met while they were both students at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Courtney is black, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Kate is white, and grew up in Buffalo, New York. They’ve lived in Baltimore and Washington DC, and now make their home together in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood. They’ve been together since 1999, and married in 2014 after same-sex marriage was legalized in Pennsylvania. In this episode of the Loving Project, they discuss growing up in multiracial families, differences between racism (and food) in the North and South, and navigating life as a multiracial same-sex couple.