Saguna Anderson.
While we were dating, my girlfriends clarified to make sure that I disclosed to my mom that Dan and I were in a relationship and not just friends. I’ve had Asian co-workers ask me this question and with curiosity explain that they’ve always wanted to date a Black man. I’ve had complete strangers (also Asian) ask this question even at professional networking events once they find out that my last name didn’t come from marrying a White American but a Black American. Because sadly, there are pockets of anti-Black sentiment in the Asian community. If nothing else, some parents may have forbid dating someone Black. It’s such a known thing in the Asian community that I have complete strangers asking me how my mother responded without knowing anything more about my husband except he is Black or anything about my mother or her viewpoints.
I don’t know if they are hoping for a story of utter rebellion, but frankly my mother was just so relieved that I was finally getting married at the age of 38 and trusted my judgment to choose a good man for myself. She just wanted a cute grandchild to dote on finally.
