[sugarandspice697]

Okay, just last week DP and I were trying to catch a plane headed to Northern California to see some of her relatives and do a little sightseeing in San Francisco. I stood in line with Julia, who was in the Ergo carrier, to our check bags while DP got our extra bags we left in our friend's car.

As I stood in line there was a man staring very hard at Julia and I; however, I ignored him and just went about my business.
"Is that Japanese baby yours?" he uttered starkly with breath that smelled like Budwieser beer. "Yes" I stated "and she Chinese-American not Japanese?". "That's just *messed* up!" he screamed. I had a dazed look on my face and a few of the passengers-to-be stared at us. My heart started to race and my knees felt weak. "What did you just say?" I stammered "I said that just *messed* up! he repeated "First our Brothers are marrying White women and now our Sisters are marrying slanted-eyed c***ks! Your husband's one of those technology geeks ain't he cause thats the only reason a sister would marry a *C*- for money!!" "No" I stated "my partner and I are both African-American and -". "PARTNERS!" he interrupted even louder "as in LESBIAN PARTNERS! Now thats really *messed* up two *D's* with a slanted-eyed baby!! This world I live in is a bunch of **** and is filled with confused familes". By now, nearly all the passengers were staring at us and a few of the agents behind the ticket counter looked uncomfortable too. Tasha was also in line by now and had heard a little bit of the conversation. "Or maybe your just *messed* up because interracial and same-sex families are everywhere now!" I said in a shaky voice while looking at him right in the eye. " You know" Tasha said to him in a very calm voice, "if your not comfortable with our family's ethnic and sexual makeup, you need to either keep your thought to yourself or have us to call airport security on you for harassment. Take your pick!". After DP make that statement in looked at us in a cruel way and walked away.

I never thought that in this day and age strangers could be so bold. It also shocked me that a AA person said this to us. I usually hear from other transracial families that CC people make most of the rude and nasty comments but I guess that wasn't the case this time. We also think we was drunk because of the way he smelled but we don't know for sure... Hopefully we can put this all behind us and never have to face a situation like this again.


PS: In case your wondering we made it to our flight on time and safely and had a awsome time in the Bay area. We also had no other incidents with our family on our trip.

*words* edited to reflect site rules on language.

[sbaglio]

I am stunned. How horrific. The thought of that incident must have lingered on your minds the whole trip. I commend you for keeping your cool and responding to that psycho coherently, and for your partner doing the same. And sadly, I do think that it's our own who possess the strongest feelings on some of these issues.

[momraine]

Wow, what a jerk! I don't know that I would have been so calm! My daughter was born missing parts of both legs and I once had a lady ask me if I did drugs when I was pregnant. I said, "No, did your mom, cause you were born without manners", but usually I am too stunned by such stupidity to answer. You did great! Sorry you had to encounter that jerk.

[Happywife]

I'm so sorry this happened. What is wrong with people?!

[txwannabemom]

So sorry! Just when you start to think the world is progressing- An idiot yells at you in an airport!

I think your family is beautiful!

[sbaglio]

It's situations like these that make me favor heading such conversations off at the beginning (though I always have some zinger that I could have said, after the incident has happened). When he asked "Is that Japanese baby yours?", that was probably your cue to cut him off because nothing good could come out of his mouth after that comment. But then again, in the heat of the moment, who can say what anyone will answer? Still, you held your own.

[loveajax]

I am trembling. I am so sorry. I mean, it's one thing to be ignorant, but to face someone who was so belligerent as well is so frightening!! You really were a model of "cool and collected." I am glad the rest of your trip was good, and I am so sorry you had to endure that.

[oceanica]

I could get very creative with the cussing and what he should do with what object, but that would be stooping to his level. I think you two handled it the best way.... there is nothing you can say to this kind of ignorance.
BTW, how could you tell it was bud?

[nee18]

Wow-I am so sorry you had to experience that. It really sounds like you both handled it the best you could-not sure I would have been as calm and collected as the two of you. It's beyond depressing to know there's people as ignorant and full of hatred as that man out there. Like someone else said, your family is beautiful! You shouldn't have had to endure that.

[Quesita]

I am so sorry. Your post was so painful, and so difficult to read.

My only thoughts are these: This is a very very sad, angry, tortured man. It seems that his only way to try and find solace is to torture random strangers and try to spread his own pain.

Tonight, when you are sitting and enjoying an ordinary moment, full of the warmth and love of your beautiful family, think about how much joy you have, and how little he has.

I'm sorry that he touched your life with his poison. But the poison of his sting will fade for you in time. For him, I suspect, the torture of his poison will never fade.

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by sbaglio

And sadly, I do think that it's our own who possess the strongest feelings on some of these issues.

I could not agree more. DH and I have been together for 10 yrs and a few times we've had AA men try and start a fight with DH because he's with me. Honestly when we are back in my hometown (Oakland, CA) I tell DH to stay in the car because I just dont feel safe.

Sugar- I'm glad you had a great time on your trip anyway. LOVE the Bay Area

[CaddoRose]

There are stupid people everywhere. I'm so sorry you had to hear any of that. I think you have a beautiful family and that's from a southern white girl who lives in Texas. Your partner rocks, by the way, for her response to the small brained person.

[Cjmeck]

That just makes me soooo sad. Really, just unreal. I think I would have been too shocked and terrified to say a thing. You two did wonderful. I'm not AA, so I don't understand the anger towards those who date/marry outside of their race. But the worst comments I've received as a CC mom to an AA/CC daughter have come from AA women; I guess they assumed my husband was AA. You really do have an absolutely beautiful family; I am convinced the majority of the world sees that too.

[joskids]

OK, that was ONE DUMB ____________!!!! Your partner, Tasha, had the perfect comeback. There was absolutely nothing either of you could have said to this "ODIOT" (our family word) that could have changed him in any way. All Tasha could do was threaten him with security. She did the right thing.

Honestly, I read this and just about fell backwards. I've heard some pretty nasty comments in my day, but your story is absolutely the worst!!!

Just today, my daughter (CC) told me about a comment made to her significant other (AA) about their biracial daughter. An older woman he works with saw a photo of my granddaughter and commented to her father "that's one white lookin' baby". He kept his cool out of respect for the woman being older. The woman was AA, by the way. I found it appalling that a black woman just HAD to comment on how fair our granddaughter is. As far as I can tell (I'm being facitious), black folks come in all shades of beautiful.

I'm so sorry you had to deal with this man's ignorance. Just sad, sad, sad.

[Steph-Jason]

OMG - my mouth dropped when I read this!! I am so sorry that you guys had to go through this. I think all of the families that God created are beautiful.

I can say - the only racist remark that I've received was from 2 AA women. Both were employees of mine that I had to write up for failure to perform their jobs according to company policy. When I wrote them up they both filed discrimination suits against myself & the company. Of course the company intervied all other workers - 67% of which are AA & the responses were that I was a very fair boss & no one else had felt discriminated against because of race, Anywho- I digress but it is relevant to the story. So a few weeks after the investigation ended & these 2 were told htat the suit had been dropped. I was in the restroom & these 2 girls were there. It was early morning so they wouldn't have thought anyone was there- I was in a stall & they were by the sinks. They said - "that girl's just a b**** & she's got no business raising that black baby" - they then said some pretty specific things about my physicail appearance so I know they were talking abot me. Since they were my employees I didn't react to them because I knew it would only fuel things. I went to our HR department to complain & I was told that I couldn't prove it so nothing was ever done.. It is frustrating & I hate that it happens. The guy that you had to deal with was a jerk & had some major issues I must say. I think it sounds like you & DP handled this pretty well.