Developing relationships with people of other races can be challenging in today's society. The racial tensions over the last few years across America have been increasing and, unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen all of the controversy surrounding crime and discrimination against blacks, Muslims, Hispanics and in some cases, since I'm being honest, white Americans too. There are many obvious reasons relationships have challenges regarding race, but what happens when one falls in love with someone of the opposite race?

As a person who usually dates within my race, I often wonder what the conversations between an interracial couple would be like. Imagine watching the evening news with your white husband and the report is on a black college student being beaten by a white cop who called the student racial slurs while hitting him across the head with his baton. How do you respond? What would you say? Would that change the happy atmosphere in the room or cause tensions? Or will your white husband, the love of your life, understand your pain as a young black American. What are the expectations of understanding in this type of situation?

Interracial dating is a beautiful thing, I just don't think I would be open to it. When it comes to dating I need to be able to connect with that person and know for a fact that they understand where I am coming from. Most times, people of the opposite race do not know exactly what African American women and men go through on a daily basis. A white man does not understand what it is like when a woman clutches her purse, or get followed around an high-end store simply because they are black. A white woman does not know how it feels to try to decide whether to wear their hair straight or in its natural state to a job interview, in fear that it may appear unprofessional. Some conversations that I have freely with my significant other of the same race, I could not have with another person of another race as they may not understand. Another factor is when it comes to controversial topics like police brutality and Black Lives Matter. I am a supporter of organizations that speak out against issues that affect my community. What if they said the wrong thing and offended me? How do you move on from something like that ? Being black is something that I live everyday, there isn't an off switch just because I date a white man.

I have friends and a few family members who date outside of their race and they seem to get along fine when the world is reeling with racial tensions. It simply "should' come down to this: that four letter word, L-O-V-E. Love is where you find it. No matter the race! We all deserve to be loved. The color of ones skin shouldn't matter. Unconditional love in the midst of good and bad is what we should all desire. As my mother would say "we are all of God's children" and should be treated equally. No one person is better than the other.

There is no doubt that interracial relationships require more work, but so does any relationship. One comment about a racial topic could change everything . That is why I believe that most interracial couples have a solid foundation and their love will last against all odds. In the end choose love, not color.