When Krishana began dating the man of her dreams, she barely noticed the contrast in the colors of their skin.

“For me, it’s important that a person has a good heart,” says Krishana, a black woman, about meeting her husband West Vettraino, a white man from Smithville, TN.

Recently, the two started dating just as civil unrest erupted across the nation due to ris- ing racial tensions. Although she had the support of her parents, she was unsure how the rest of her family would feel.

“I was worried about their reactions and what they would say.”

According to the Pew Research Center, one in five new marriages is now interracial. While statistics suggest that interracial marriages in America have gained greater ac- ceptance, not all couples have that experience. Still, many have found ways to cope.

The couple’s shared religious faith along with a community of fellow believers have been invaluable in navigating the cultural complexities.  

West and Krishana grew up worshipping and associating with a diverse group of people in their congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Neither their families nor their fellow con- gregants were surprised when they began to date and later married in February of this year.

She commented, “My family was very happy for me. They saw our love for each other wasn’t only skin deep.”

West’s family responded similarly. “My family got to know Krishana and her family the same way I did, without letting the color of her skin or the cultural differences get in the way.”

The experience was similar for Monifa and Isaac Homza’s multiracial, multi-generational clan.

Monifa’s Nigerian-Caribbean father and Korean mother were often a curiosity in their New York City neighborhood. But at home, the children could see their peaceful and lov- ing relationship, Monifa said. “They took care of each other in spite of what was happen- ing around them.”

Meanwhile, Isaac was growing up in rural Virginia, where he observed the racial divide daily on his bus ride to school. As he passed two churches that shared a parking lot, he noticed that the lot divided attendees by race. “It seemed strange to me because at our congregation we all met together,” Isaac said.

The couple eventually met through a mutual friend when Isaac moved to New York to work at the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses with volunteers from around the world.

Monifa was immediately drawn to Isaac’s piercing blue eyes. As for Isaac, there was no question: “I thought she was beautiful.” A similar sense of humor and willingness to ex- pand their cultural horizons helped too.

The couple might never have come to be if the prior generation hadn’t overcome their own cultural biases.

Monifa’s father made big changes once he started studying the Bible and saw that all races are equal in God’s sight. He widened his circle of friends, met Monifa’s mother, and later welcomed his white son-in-law into the family. “It was heartwarming to me be- cause I knew the background my dad had and the prejudices he held,” said Monifa. “It’s not the way you look. It’s what you are on the inside.”

Now living in Maui, the Homzas are working to impart the same qualities to their three children. “One of the Bible principles we try to teach them is love of neighbor,” Monifa added. “We don’t categorize people. We love people of all races.”

According to a study conducted by the University of Utah, married couples who had shared values reported higher levels of marital happiness and individual well-being than those who did not.

The Vettrainos agree that love, loyalty, and faith are among the shared values on which they base their marriage and family life. They credit daily Bible reading and prayer with helping them overcome differences in a divided world.

West said, “Often we see people put up barriers because of different skin color or differ- ent culture. But Acts 10:34 tells us that Jehovah God is not partial. So when we try to see people the same way He does, those man-made barriers do not exist.”

The newly married couple love spending time with their friends of diverse backgrounds. They also enjoy time together in a volunteer ministry. Their shared outlook unites them in overcoming potential obstacles in marriage and in life.

West added, “Rather than putting up a barrier because of differences, embracing and becoming familiar with them leads to meaningful relationships and an overall more en- joyable life.”

More information on the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including resources for hap- py family life, can be found on their official website, www.jw.org.