'Married Outside of Our Race:' Couple Rise Above Hateful Stares and Judgment on Their Relationship

Despite hateful stares and judgment on their relationship, an interracial couple has proven that love is enough to get them through the discrimination.

When Asharel Chastain, an African-American woman, tied the knot with her college sweetheart, a white man from a small town, it left people talking. Two years later, they welcomed their beautiful daughter. Still, the bigoted whispers and scornful glances continued.

Eventually, Asharel took to social media to share her story. But rather than join the haters in their abuse, the happily married woman chose a message of inclusivity and love. Here are the details of the intriguing story.

HOW THE COUPLE LEARNED TO LOVE THE OPPOSITE RACE

As a child, Asharel moved around a lot, but when she entered the third grade, her family settled in Glenpool, Oklahoma. She revealed that Glenpool was predominantly white, and most of her new friends were white.

Despite being in a new environment, Asharel adapted easily because everyone made her feel welcomed, irrespective of her skin color.

On the other hand, her husband, Brady Chastain, grew up in a small town with few or no black residents, but his parents had taught him to love others despite their skin color. So, he went to school and even played basketball with black people.

THE COUPLE'S STRUGGLE WITH PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

Asharel and Brady were freshmen in college when they met. They studied together and knew they liked each other. However, they played it off until they could not anymore. The couple started dating, and shortly after they graduated from college, Brady proposed.

They tied the knot in 2018, and ten months later, Asharel became pregnant with their daughter, A'vaya. Sadly, they soon discovered that prejudice had followed them into their happily married life and parenthood. Asharel confessed thus:

"As an interracial couple, we sometimes get glares from both the white and black community. Glares that are meant to be judgmental since we are 'married outside our race.'"

The woman explained that the hateful stares never bothered them. Instead, they laughed and talked about how people could be judgemental in the 21st century.

Asharel also mentioned that these reactions made her and Brady's love grow stronger. Most importantly, it made Asharel realize that she and Brady would need to teach A'vaya to love everything about herself and others, irrespective of race.

With those teachings, Asharel and Brady are convinced that their daughter will grow up as they did, loving with an open heart and without prejudice.

OTHER ACCOUNTS OF PREJUDICE TOWARDS INTERRACIAL COUPLES

Asharel and Brady are among the numerous interracial couples to face discrimination and disapproval. Despite interracial marriages being made legal in the US on June 12, 1967, some couples are still putting up with disapproval, lousy treatment, threats, and attacks from the public.

For example, in the 1980s, Michele Farrell and her African-American boyfriend decided to look for an apartment in Michigan. Unfortunately, the woman in charge of the apartment revealed that renting the property to mixed couples was not an option.

In addition, instances where interracial couples are denied apartments, healthcare, and job opportunities, have been mentioned.

While racism remains one of the most troubling issues globally, citizens of various countries remain hopeful that someday, everyone will learn to love one another, irrespective of their skin color.