Bridging the Racial Divide

When Little Rock resident, Scotty Adams, first laid eyes on the woman of his dreams 25 years ago, he barely noticed the contrast in the colors of their skin.

Scotty, a White man, met his wife, Michell, a Black woman, while taking a course in American Sign Language (ASL). Scotty recalls seeing Michell for the first time, “Watching her delicate hands as she spoke ASL was like watching a work of art in motion. I tried to keep my cool, but I was eager to know more about her.”

While their different ethnicities had no bearing on their attraction to each other, they were very aware of the potential challenges in pursuing a relationship. “Even in communities where there exists an acceptance of interracial marriages, there is still a subtle undercurrent of prejudices,” said Scotty.

According to the Pew Research Center, one in five new marriages is now interracial. While statistics suggest that interracial marriages in America have gained greater acceptance, not all couples have that experience. Still, they have found ways to cope.

Shared religious faith along with a community of fellow believers have been invaluable in navigating the cultural complexities. Both Scotty and Michell grew up worshipping and associating with a diverse group of people in their congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe that all races are equal in God’s sight.

Growing up in South Alabama, Scotty’s family attended a congregation with a mixture of cultures. “We were all like a big family,” Scotty remembers. “They wrapped their arms around me, and me around them. It was such a different atmosphere from the thinking that surrounded me when I went to school.”

Michell adds, “As a youth, I loved exploring other cultures, especially among those in our congregation. I didn’t want to limit myself to the ideas of my own culture. When you broaden your horizons in that way you tend to discover your new favorites in things like food, music, art and fashion.”

The experience was similar for Ken and Diana Pegues of Little Rock.

The two met while working at a soap factory in Illinois. “When I walked into the break room and saw her for the first time, I was struck by her big, hazel eyes and fluttering eyelashes,” he recalls thinking about Diana, his wife of 15 years. “Yes, she was White and I was Black, but I was raised to view people according to their actions, not their race.”

However, in her youth, Diana was influenced by others who taught her not to socialize with people of other races. “I learned how flawed that thinking was after forming friendships in high school with people of Black and Spanish culture. Still, breaking the news to my family that I was dating a Black man was hard.”

Despite the negative reactions from others, the couple found happiness together and married in 2006. Commenting on how things have improved, Diana says, “My mother wouldn’t speak to me when we started dating, but now she says she couldn’t have picked a better person for me. After some time, she saw the wonderful qualities that drew me to Ken.”

According to a study conducted by the University of Utah, married couples who had shared values reported higher levels of marital happiness and individual well-being than those who did not.

At the outset of their marriage, Ken and Diana struggled at times to get past their differences. “We sought space from each other when we had differences of opinion,” admits Ken. Five years into their marriage they began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. Ken explains, "This taught us how to effectively communicate with each other. I learned how to be patient with my wife when disagreements would arise. Now, rather than seeking space, we look for more ways to spend time together.”

The Adams agree that love, loyalty, and faith are among the shared values on which they base their marriage and family life. They credit daily Bible reading and prayer with helping them to communicate on a deeper level with one another, especially when differences of opinion come into play.

“The kaleidoscope of diversity that interracial marriages possess is significant,” Michell acknowledges. “With the guidance of Bible principles, couples that emerge from racial bias are able to, not only survive, but thrive.”

Scotty agreed, “When we have differences, our faith helps us come back to a central point, the Bible. Making a regular effort to apply our Creator’s advice for married couples has benefitted our marriage greatly.”

While the Adams both support themselves as ASL interpreters, what brings them the most satisfaction is spending time together in their volunteer ministry, helping the Deaf community, which they describe as having its own culture. “Whether we are Black, White or Deaf, we face many of the same challenges in life,” notes Michell. “Working together to help others really strengthens our marriage bond.”

More information on the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including resources for happy family life, can be found on their official website, www.jw.org.