New book highlights interracial dating issues
VIDEO - Diane Farr, best known for her roles in the hit shows 'Rescue Me' and 'Californiacation', has written a new book about the struggles of interracial dating and marriage....
Diane Farr, best known for her roles in the hit shows Rescue Me and Californiacation, has written a new book about the struggles of interracial dating and marriage. Titled Kissing Outside the Lines: A True Story of Love and Race and Happily Ever After, the book focuses on the way some families talk to their children about interracial dating at a young age, many of them forbidding or warning against it.
‘This is the last prejudice we really aren’t talking about yet because it happen[s] at home and no one wants to shame their parents’ says Farr.
Farr first encountered this intolerance when dating her now husband Seung who is Korean American. She recalls that on their sixth date he sat down with her and said that his parents had spoken to him at a young age, saying that he would have to marry a Korean.
WATCH TODAY SHOW INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR DIANE FARR HERE
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What is interesting is that in Seung’s example his parents made sure to specify that everybody was equal, and that everybody should be treated the same way. Yet they said “when it comes to love, you can’t marry one of them” explains Farr.
When she was investigating the issue, Farr found that much of the advice from disapproving parents started with, “it’s not fair to the kids. Who will the kids be?” To put this excuse to rest Farr interviewed a number of children raised in interracial households for her book.
One couple featured in Kissing Outside the Lines, Lisa and Dave Tyler, dealt with Lisa’s white family not accepting Dave, her African American husband. Their advice to others in similar situations was simple.”Don’t let the attittudes of other people drive how you live your life. Live it, and enjoy it.”
How is Farr’s relationship with her In-laws now? “My husband’s family asked if they could help sell [the book] in Korea, they were totally on board!” Farr laughs. Dave also eventually found acceptance in Lisa’s family circle.
