Mary has been married to her husband, Mikaah, for nearly nine months.
Connecting the Dots
They met in middle school but didn’t start talking until sophomore year.
They Were a Happy Couple
Mikaah was a patient and cheerful man, and they lived a good life, until everything took a turn for the worse one Saturday night.
Underlying Tensions
Wesley, Mary’s younger brother, has never been fond of her husband. This situation caused Mary a lot of concern.
Racial Divide
Mikaah is black, while Mary’s family is white.
Shades of Prejudice
Wesley has always had racist tendencies, but never to an extreme level. Because of this, Mary never introduced Mikaah to him.
Language Concerns
Wesley and his friends have a troubling habit of using the N-word.
Setting Ground Rules
Mikaah knew about this habit but closed an eye so long as Wesley didn’t use such language around him.
Joyful Moments
Mary’s parents informed them about a family dinner due to take place on Saturday night, to celebrate her cousin’s pregnancy.
Drinks Galore
The event was held at Mary’s uncle’s house. Her brother got a bit drunk since there were plenty of drinks.
Clumsy Moment
Wesley accidentally bumped into Mikaah when he went to get a drink.
Apology and Insult
Mikaah apologized, but Wesley angrily interrupted, saying, “Hey, watch your step!” followed by an offensive, racially-charged expletive.
Ignited Rage
That was the last straw for Mikaah. He lost his temper and started hitting her brother, even when he began screaming and bleeding.
Decision Not to Intervene
Mary usually would intervene, but this time she didn’t. After all, Wesley’s words provoked Mikaah.
Family’s Rescue Mission
Mary’s dad, uncle, and her sister’s husband had to spend 5 minutes trying to pull Mikaah off Wesley. Mikaah finally stopped but kicked Wesley one last time and left.
Concern Without Sympathy
The family attended to her brother but admitted they didn’t feel sorry for him. Mary couldn’t bear to stay when she saw Wesley’s red, bloody, and swollen face. She left.
Emotions Run High
Mikaah was watching a movie on the couch when she got home. She sat beside him and started crying.
His Insecurity and Her Reassurance
He asked her if she was mad at him. She reassured him she wasn’t but said his reaction was extreme.
Tensions Escalate
Avoiding Mary’s eyes, Mikaah got defensive, stating that Wesley had disrespected his ethnicity.
Mikaah said he would stay at a hotel. She tried to talk him out of it, but he left.
Divided Family
Mary’s family is now upset with her, wondering why she didn’t defend her brother. Mikaah is also avoiding her.
Unexpected Surprise
On top of all this, Mary discovered she was six weeks pregnant. Feeling lost and confused, she turned to an online forum, asking what she should do.
Confronting Racism
A commenter insisted that she tell her parents her disapproval of racism, clarifying that she must support her husband and baby.
Reject Bad Energy
Another individual supported the previous comment, stressing the mixed-racial heritage of her baby. They questioned whether she wanted her brother’s racist behavior around her child. They warned that if her brother were to say something offensive to her child, it could escalate to a point where her husband might respond even more severely.
Deserved Outcome
A commenter expressed that the brother was fully aware of his words and their impact; thus, the consequences were deserved. They sided with her husband in this situation.
A Wake-Up Call Unlikely
One person stressed the likelihood that her brother might also make inappropriate comments about Mary’s child. They hoped the incident would serve as a wake-up call for her brother. Still, they remained skeptical, given his perceived lack of intelligence.
Reinforcement of Stereotypes
This commenter argued that since Mary’s biological family is defending her brother’s behavior, he is unlikely to change and might become even more aggressive in his racism. Their support for his actions will only reinforce his racial stereotypes, potentially affecting Mary’s child negatively.
Sever Ties
This commenter emphasized that she should consider cutting ties with her family for the sake of her husband and child. Failing that, they suggested her husband might have to leave her. They stressed the importance of protecting her life partner from the racist individuals in her family and safeguarding her unborn child’s future. They hoped that she would consider these pieces of advice, at least the ones they had seen.
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Susan is the founder of Susan's Socials, a social media agency focused on Flipboard. She is also a content curator, encouraging a healthy lifestyle through topics such as pets, food, travel, home decor, gardening, and fashion.
