Keith W. McIntosh,
Richmond, VA
I am blessed to be married to my lovely and talented partner, Penny. We were in prior relationships which gave us sons. Our boys were 4 years old when we met and our first date was taking them to Sesame Street Live on Ice. I would often joke that our boys were twins like Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, one is 6’4″, blond hair, blue-eyed and the other is 5’9″, black hair, and brown-eyed. We were blessed with a daughter through our marriage. We lived in Southern Arizona when she was in middle and high school. She was often mistaken as Latina due to her skin complexion and hair. This is our blended family.
Penny and I had different upbringings. She was born and raised in a small town in Iowa in a homogenous community and attended one school system. I was born while my father served in the U.S. Air Force. We lived in a variety of states and countries. I attended several grade schools, middle schools, and high schools. I had a very diverse upbringing.
When Penny and I started our family had challenges of acceptance from within our families and as well as from society at large. Some challenges were mild while others were severe. We often received stares, some pointing and whispering, especially when only me or Penny were with the kids. I remember a white woman asking my stepson Dane where is your Daddy or Mommy was when she saw him without a white adult nearby. I sat and watched as Dane proceeded to point to me and the woman then said, no baby, I mean “YOUR DAD or MOM” and he again pointed to me so I stepped toward them and explained to the woman that I was indeed his dad. I was close enough to hear their conversation. I still don’t think she believed me until he hugged me and we walked away with him holding my hand. I know Penny has experienced similar situations when she is alone with the kids. Our kids also had to learn to navigate their life and explain their family to their friends.
White Stepson, Black Son, Multiracial Daughter (& Multiracial grandsons).
YES!!!!!!!!!!! I am their Dad!!!
#URTRCP #TheRaceCardProject
