The music video for Alicia Keys' "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" is a beautiful narrative. It travels from decade to decade showing the struggles a young interracial couple face as they fight for their right to be together. In the video, Alicia Keys, a beautiful bi-racial woman, falls for a guy played by Chad Michael Murray of the hit television show One Tree Hill. They sneak looks from across a grocery store isle in the 1960's, run off at night to spend a little time together in the 70's, pretend as if they don't know each other in the 80's, and so on.
Unlike other racially driven stories, the skepticism isn't just coming from the white side. It's more about what happens on the black woman's end. It's her family disapproving, her brother trying to "protect her" from a bad decision. It's about the fear and tension that comes along with doing the unknown.
The video meets us in present day, where Alicia literally stands at the threshold of her doorstep, deciding if once and for all, she is ready to do the un-thinkable.
It's a wonder that in 2010, this would still be a story that needs telling. But it does. It's an issue that could use a lot more exploration. I mean, we have a black president, which shows we've made some strides in the world of race relations, but when it comes to bringing someone of another race home to meet the folks, well, that can be tricky can't it?
44 years ago, a black woman and a white man (or vice versa), were legally unable to marry in the United States. It wasn't until 1967 that the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Loving v. Virginia that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. That's not a very long time ago. And sure, a law was passed that legally gave people the freedom, but did it give them the courage?
In 1977, when my parents (mother black, father white) married, they experienced a lot of flak from both black and white sides. I can't imagine what they really endured, but from a young girl's perspective, I was aware of the discrimination, the curiosity, and long stares. I heard the whispers when my family walked into any room. We were five different shades of color, like a Benetton ad. We were beautiful to some, but confusing and scary to others.
Now, in 2010, I realize how fortunate I am to live in a time and place, where it's less of a taboo to date outside my race. But let's keep it real. I've been in one too many rooms where the topic at hand was about how people couldn't possibly date outside of their race. We've still got some hang ups to work on.
And for that reason, any piece of art, music video, literature, which opens a dialogue about interracial dating is important.
What do you think? Watch "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" here: