By Francis Quamina Farrier

RACISM and all its evil deeds are among popular international discourses at this time. Those who practise racism always try to justify their actions, principally with the argument that they are superior to their victims. At this time those who are victims  of racism, especially in the United States, cry out for justice. There are many examples of official racism which crumbled, or are crumbling under pressures from anti-racists; apartheid in South Africa being a prime example. In more recent times, there has been much pushback against that human weakness when individuals and groups treat others differently because of race. Racism and all that goes with it bring lots of pain to the victims. In more recent times in the United States of America, there have been many “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations which have even been extended worldwide. In this article, I write about romantic love between the races, especially when the individuals get married and raise a family together.

In this my first feature article on the topic of inter-racial marriage, I immediately make mention that President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger are of different races, and that they have been married for over 50 years now. President Cheddi Jagan who was of Indian heritage, was married to Janet Rosenburg, who was white. Their marriage lasted for over 50 years. The first featured couple in this series, is New York-based Guyanese Chuck (Charles) Mohan who is of Indian heritage, and his wife Andrea, who is of African heritage. They have been married for almost 40 years now.

“We are together 43 years and married 38 years,” Chuck told me. “Her name is Andrea. Williams is her maiden name and I asked her if she wanted to continue using it after we were married and she said no.” Their meeting was, in a way, spectacular. “We first saw each other at an Earth, Wind and Fire concert at MSG in 1976 but was officially introduced by a mutual Surinamese friend in 1977 and we have been together ever since,” Chuck said, in a way implying that their different racial backgrounds were really no big hurdle for them. They saw each other as two human beings who fell in love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together as partners building a family and giving service to their community. Love has no borders.

Cupid, that little baby-like fellow of Roman love mythology, with wings and a bow and arrow, shoots straight and to various people; he is not a racist for sure. Back in the 1960s, there was a popular love song by the American singer Sam Cooke entitled, “Cupid” in which the singer pleads with the love iconic to shoot his love arrow straight to his lover’s heart.  “I knew from the first day I met her that I wanted to marry her and I could not be happier,” said Chuck when he first saw Andrea, who he knew was going to be his wife. Cupid’s arrow had struck its target. “She is the most wonderful human being and I’m happy that she chose me to be her husband. Race or ethnicity plays no part in our love and understanding of each other,” said the Professor and community organiser.

While their love for each other is firm and has stood the test of time, there were certainly the occasions when outside forces – especially people with racial agendas in their hearts – tried to intervene in a negative way. “We don’t believe the colour of a person’s skin is important, but understanding, compromise, dedication, and love are more important for a successful marriage,” Chuck pointed out. “Our marriage vows and family first is of utmost importance to us.” Chuck Mohan could very well be speaking for many others who are living their lives with spouses of a different race, such as former Guyanese Beauty Queen Shakira Baksh, who is of Indian heritage, and was courted by the Academy Award Winning English movie star Michael Caine. The two have been married for 50 years and counting. No doubt, most of us know a racially mixed couple – or great friends, for that matter.

Chuck Mohan and his wife Andrea have strong opinions regards mixed marriages. “I totally support mixed marriages. I believe it’s healthy for the world and brings about better understanding of people. In a mixed marriage you have to be able to be objective. For example, I criticise blacks and she criticises Indians, but not in a general stereotype but on individual situations and never their race or ethnicity.” So Chuck and Andrea look at the deed, good or bad, of the person, and not their race to level criticisms or praise. “We brought up our daughter to love her whole being and not to choose between her Indian-ness or blackness, but love and respect both halves of who she is. She stays away from attending Guyanese most of the time because of racist comments about blacks by Indians and also some blacks would question what she is doing with me and not one of her kind. Our kind is human beings,” Chuck emphasised.

The couple has enjoyed lots of support from relatives and friends over the years. “Andrea is a great in-law and she is loved and adored by my parents and never had an argument or ‘falling out’ over those years. My sister and nieces and nephew also adore her,” Chuck said.

Some years ago I interviewed an elderly couple in America who were married when the country had laws prohibiting whites and non- whites from marrying each other. Chuck Mohan pointed out that, “Mixed marriages in the past was very difficult for those involved, even today because of the racism that still exists in the United States. The famous Loving case ended that in 1967. Richard and Mildred Loving (an inter-racial couple) endured a lot but they fought all the way to the supreme court and won, which ended the ban on inter-racial marriage throughout the United States ended,” Chuck enlightens his students regarding that aspect of the history of America. “This is a case I discuss in my class every semester. In the movie it showed when their lawyers were going to the supreme court to present their case, he refused to go. They asked him what they should tell the court and he said, ‘Tell them I love my wife.’ That said it all for me and I also LOVE MY WIFE.”

Chuck and Andrea continue to live a happy married life in which race is not an obstacle, but rather a pedestal on which their love for each other zooms large like a display by Cupid, that mythical Roman god of love, who is definitely not a racist.