#wgitachi

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I'm Black and my boyfriend Jake is white. We'd been dating for eight months and he was finally ready for me to meet his parents. He was nervous but kept saying they'd love me once they got to know me.

We drive three hours to his hometown for Sunday dinner. Jake's been hyping me up the whole way - telling me about his mom's famous lasagna and how excited his family is to meet me.

When we pull into the driveway, I see the curtains move. Someone was watching for us.

Jake's mom Susan opens the door with this huge fake smile. "You must be... Maya, right?"

"Yes ma'am, it's so nice to meet you."

She gives me this weird up-and-down look, then turns to Jake. "She's... prettier than I expected."

Already feeling uncomfortable, but Jake squeezes my hand reassuringly.

Dinner starts okay. His dad asks about my job, my family, normal getting-to-know-you stuff. But I notice Susan keeps staring at me like I'm some kind of exhibit.

Then Jake mentions that I'm starting graduate school in the fall for my Master's in Engineering.

Susan's fork stops halfway to her mouth. "Engineering? That's... ambitious."

"Mom, Maya graduated summa cum laude. She's brilliant."

Susan forces another smile. "Of course she is, honey."

But I can tell something's brewing.

After dinner, Jake goes to help his dad with something in the garage. Susan and I are alone in the kitchen, and that's when her mask comes off completely.

"Can I be honest with you, Maya?"

"Sure."

"I think you seem like a lovely girl, but I'm concerned about Jake's future."

I'm confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you have to understand, Jake comes from a good family. We have certain... expectations for his life."

My stomach starts to drop.

"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your people, but mixing races just creates problems. Think about the children - they won't fit in anywhere. They'll be confused about their identity."

I'm stunned silent.

But she's not done. "And honestly, I've worked hard to build our family's reputation in this community. Having a... diverse... daughter-in-law would complicate things socially."

I find my voice. "Are you asking me to break up with your son because I'm Black?"

"I'm asking you to think about what's best for everyone. Jake could have his pick of any nice white girl from a good family. Why would you want to hold him back?"

That's when Jake walks back into the kitchen and hears the last part.

"Hold him back from what, Mom?"

Susan goes pale. "Jake, honey, we were just talking-"

"No, I heard you. You think Maya is holding me back because she's Black?"

"I didn't say that exactly-"

"That's exactly what you said." Jake's voice is getting louder. "You think I should dump the woman I love because of her race?"

His dad comes in from the garage. "What's all the yelling about?"

Jake turns to him. "Did you know Mom was planning to ask Maya to break up with me because she's Black?"

His dad looks uncomfortable but doesn't deny it.

"Both of you knew about this?"

Susan tries to backtrack. "Jake, we just want what's best for you-"

"What's best for me is Maya. She's the smartest, kindest, most amazing person I've ever met. And you want me to throw that away because you're racist?"

"We're not racist! We just think-"

"You literally told her that her 'people' create problems and that she'd hurt our family's reputation. How is that not racist?"

The room goes dead silent.

Jake takes my hand. "We're leaving. And we're not coming back until you apologize and mean it."

As we're walking to the car, Susan calls out: "Jake, don't throw your life away over this!"

Jake stops and turns around. "I'm not throwing my life away. I'm choosing the woman I love over parents who raised me better than this."

We drive home in silence for the first hour. Finally, Jake says, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea they felt that way."

"It's not your fault."

Six months later, we're engaged. Jake's parents weren't invited to the proposal, and they won't be invited to the wedding unless they genuinely apologize.

His mom has called several times, but never to apologize. She keeps saying she was "misunderstood" and that I'm "turning Jake against his family."

Jake's response is always the same: "You turned me against you when you disrespected the woman I love."