I was an All-American girl, straight A student, cheerleader, living in a small town in south Louisiana. Freshman year, I found myself dating a black boy. You can bet it was the talk of the school, especially the teacher's lounge.

See Also: Why I Don't Party With White People

Interracial relationships can be beautiful.

It's also probably one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I'm so proud of myself for staying true to who I am.

You are attracted to who you are attracted to. You love whoever the heck you love.

If a brunette dates a brunette and then one day dates a blonde, no one freaks out, because it's none of their damn business who you're attracted to. But the second I like someone with a different skin color, it's World War III.

This is for the girls that have lived through the small-mindedness of a small town, and have been hurt by its cruel words, all because of who they loved. It's for the white girls who got dirty looks by society when you walked into a restaurant with your black boyfriend.

I never knew it would've been an issue. I was in 4th grade when I had posters all over my wall and my friend asked if I would ever date Corbin Bleu. Heck yes I would date Corbin Bleu. "But... he's black." Yeah I know, he's on my wall, isn't he cute? My parents had just never taught me that I couldn't date black guys; I was so confused. But in that moment, by my friend's disgusted face, I knew it wasn't something you're supposed to do.

But, you don't control who you love. And I'm glad I've never tried to.

I have met some of the most amazing guys (that are black) and some of the most worthless scumbags (that are also black). I have also met some pretty bomb white guys and pretty horrible white guys. The color of your skin does NOT define you as a person, nor does it define you as my boyfriend, how you treat me does.

So to someone's old judgmental grandma, when I was out to dinner, sitting across from my African American boyfriend at the time with dreads and big muscles, I saw you stare at me. I saw you whisper to your 80 year old husband and him turn around and shake his head.

I saw, and I know exactly what you were thinking.

All I can do for your kind is pray. Pray that you one day have a child or grandchild that has to live the struggle of being judged for who they date, not to be ruthless, but just so you can see what it's like. So you can understand, that your little white grand daughter, that grew up sitting in your lap with pigtails, falling in love with a big ole black guy is not a bad thing. So that when Christmas comes around and he's in your living room, staring at your granddaughter with such admiration, that you see it. You see it's all love. That he's so much more than his brown skin.

And that you finally come around.

For the family that made their daughter stop hanging out with me when I got my first black boyfriend, I really hope you realize how great of a friend I could've been to your daughter, and that she definitely needed one with parents like you.

To the man who asked my daddy how he felt about his daughter dating black guys, I hope you completely understood how he feels about it by his response. "The way I see it, if I punch her boyfriend in the nose, he bleeds red, and if I punch you in the nose, you bleed red."

To every racist person who has something to say about any of my relationships, I truly hope one day you realize how ignorant you sound. I hope you're embarrassed to know you judged an innocent little girl for falling in love with a boy who treated her right- yes, he treated me right.

To the families "dealing" with their daughter or sister falling in love with a black man, not completely loving the idea but trying your best to understand and accept things, thank you. I know you may not get it, but just remember, if he makes her happy, what else really matters?

To the boys who put up with the racist people just to be with the girl you love, I am so sorry. You should never have to go through this, and it's truly unfair.

And to the girl reading this, punished because her parents found out she was texting a black boy, push through. They come around when they see it's nothing other than love (some do anyways). It gets better and love always, always prevails. Love your chocolate boys if that's what you love. Love them through the stares and harsh remarks; love them through the judgmental comments and hatred of the world. Love them so fricken much. Because they didn't do anything to not deserve your love.

AND LOVE IS SO DAMN WORTH IT.