Thomas K. Perry faced his moment of truth with his first grandchild in his arms. Her name was Myranda. Her skin was light brown, a mixture of her mother's white and father's dark brown complexions. All the barriers just fell. Acceptance often is hard for the families of interracial couples.
Some families reconcile, others remain estranged.
Sometimes the racial barriers work both ways, with resentments hatching among families and friends of each side and the couple caught between. Perry's epiphany four years ago brought his family back together, including Tony Porter-Loftin, the father of Myranda and, three years later, Noah. It didn't end all of the strife within their extended families over the interracial marriage between Tony and Perry's daughter, Michelle. But it was magic for a close family that had become splintered. Seeing that my mom and dad were becoming grandparents, it really changed everything.