There’s a beautiful story circulating the ‘net about a young, black, South African woman who was adopted by a white couple.

Racism is almost a way of life for a lot of South Africans and unfortunately, it’s becoming more obvious in other parts of the world as well. But Mandisa Mlitwa has a story that proves not everyone cares about the color of someone else’s skin.

Love is blind.

You’ve probably heard that saying. Maybe you’ve even said it yourself.

According to Phrases.org.uk, here’s some interesting background on it.

Around 1405, Chaucer wrote the Merchant’s Tale, and in it he penned a phrase that would become famous.

“For loue is blynd alday and may nat see.”

Very few of us read or understand old English, but you should be able to decipher that.

Later, Shakespeare used the term, to the point where many assume he originated it. He used the phrase in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Henry V, and also in The Merchant of Venice, where Jessica says,

“But love is blind, and lovers cannot see.”

Granted, neither author is talking about familial love—the love you have for your family members. But the principle is the same.

Mandisa Mlitwa, a black girl, is adopted by a white couple.

She doesn’t share how old she was when she was adopted, nor does she tell us how she lost her birth parents, but it’s clear she was loved by them in some of the photos she’s shared on her Facebook.

But whatever the circumstance, she wound up with another set of parents who loved her dearly and unconditionally, despite the color of her skin.

Is love really blind, or does it just choose to ignore?

Personally, I believe it just chooses to ignore. Because being blind indicates you don’t even see or notice differences like skin color. I think we notice, but it just doesn’t matter. And that comes from someone who is the child of mixed-race parents. I know what color skin each of my parents have. I’m not blind to it, it simply doesn’t matter in any way that really counts. At least to me. I realize that others may feel differently.

Having said that, it seems science disagrees with me.

A study done by University College London finds that love is blind.

The BBC reported on the study that was initially published in NeuroImage. They state,

“Scientists have shown that there is a degree of truth in the old adage that love is blind.

They have found that feelings of love lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought.

It seems that once we get close to a person, the brain decides the need to assess their character and personality is reduced.”

The article goes even further to say that,

“The researchers found that both romantic love and maternal love produce the same effect on the brain.

They suppress neural activity associated with critical social assessment…”

Did Mlitwa’s adoptive parents simply “suppress neural activity associated with critical social assessment”, or did they understand and reject “critical social assessment?”

I think they rejected it.

Mandisa recently took to Facebook to express her thanks for the parents of her heart. And the love that they had and have for her. She’s lost her adoptive mother to cancer, but she says her dad hugs her every morning. And this elderly white man has even gone to the extent of helping her wash her black girl hair.

I don’t think there is any doubt this man loves his daughter, regardless of the fact she isn’t his biologically, and her skin is a different color than his.

In her post, Mandisa talks about how people assume her dad is her sugar daddy when they are out together. Fortunately, she takes this with a sense of humor. You can read more about it in her full post here:

In a world where we’re hearing more and more about racism, this is a beautiful story, and it’s nice that so many people are sharing it.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:

Facebook

BBC

Pixabay

Pexels

To learn more read our Editorial Standards.

Share on Facebook

Share this article

By E. Holder

[email protected]

E. Holder is a contributor at SBLY Media.