#dontbackdown

© Ryan Pfluger

Good times and pretty lucky 🍀 🎲 💃 Torque Converter Bolts backed off on the 727. The sound of what nightmares are made of like a thrown rod 🤮. New @arpbolts and some red @loctiteglue no more backing off. Marked them to ensure during regular maintenance they can be checked. #nobackoff #727torqueflite #converter #68charger #69charger #70charger #goodtimes #ladyluck #notasbadasithought #whatnightmaresaremadeof #dodge #bigblockmopar #dontbackdown #dontbackout #markthem https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Ys9jNpy9b/?igshid=1rdiinscdwfx

You see interracial couples everywhere now a days it seems like, as if it’s now a norm of the 21st century. But as we know it wasn’t always like this. Interracial marriage wasn’t formally declared legal in the U.S. until 1967 when the Supreme Court ruled it so in the case of Loving V. Virginia. And even though the law was passed people in interracial relationships were still being persecuted based on who they couldn’t help but fall in love with. As someone who is biracial (Native/White) I never questioned it as a child, I just knew people had different color skin. I didn’t know that when I grew up race would have such an impact on my life. Growing up I would see couples of different races holding hands, kissing, have a child(ren) with them and I never wondered why, I just accepted it. I just thought it was the norm: Two people meet, fall in love, have kids, grow old together. Seems simple enough to comprehend. As I got older and started getting into boys. But I never noticed I was only attracted to boys of the Latino type until Jr high. I didn’t know it was “wrong” or a “problem” for me to be attracted to and wanting to be in a relationship with a Latino boy. I thought nothing of it. Until an incident happened with my mom and step dad. My mom is white and my step dad is Mexican(he’s from Mexico). They were in a grocery store with my “step grandmother” and a Hispanic lady comes up to them and asked my step dad “why are you with this white woman instead of your own kind?” My step grandmother then proceeded to tell this young woman as plain as she could and simply said “It’s none of your business.” And the lady huff and puffed herself away. And what she said stuck with me. Both my step grandmother and what that lady said, it stuck with me all these years. I thought it was wrong to be with someone outside of my race. I thought I had to be with someone who was half native and white like myself. I was scared to show affection for Latino boys due to getting attacked verbally or even physically. I was scared of what other people would say and think. Then what my step grandmother said popped into my head and I automatically agreed and took a 180° turn with my way of thinking. She was right, it’s nobody’s business. It wasn’t until my early 20s is when the words “interracial relationship” crossed my mind again. By that time I was in a 2 year relationship with a Mexican man. Going out in public we got looks and whispers. Especially those of the Latino background, mostly females. I just shrugged it off as them being jealous. Then the hate came out when I was really active of Facebook. I would get hate comments from Latino girls to “stay away from their men.”, “you’re not good enough for our men.” And then it dawned on me: It’s none of their business. Being in an interracial relationship comes with joy and fear. The joy of being with someone you love, growing with them, learning about their heritage,making memories together. And the fear of being attacked because you can’t help who you fall in love with. I’ve been attacked verbally on what I’m doing is wrong or gross. But my favorite is being called racist. I’m apparently racist because I prefer to date Latino men. Lets get this straight: Just because I prefer to date a certain race doesn’t mean I’m racist. It’s a sexual preference. People shouldn’t have to be afraid of being attacked, verbally or physically, just because of who their partner is. We shouldn’t be scared to hold hands in public or put our arms around each other. Us biracial people shouldn’t believe what others have to say about us. We are the best of our parent’s worlds. We are the proof that love is color blind. But most of all, it is NOBODYS business who we choose to be in a relationship with.

Annnnnnd … we made it to the plane!! Exit row as originally purchased. It was a HELLUVA struggle, but WE DID IT. They had no choice but to honor our reservation, or should I say, I gave them no other option. DON’T FUCKKK WITH AN ARIES WOMAN ON A MISSION. ✈️🌎✌🏼#switzerland #vacation #determination #standyourground #dontbackdown #momdaughtertrip #travel #seetheworld #seatissues #airline (at Tom Bradley International Terminal - Los Angeles International Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci30LxaMaEA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#OnThisDay August 27, 1996 @queersofficial released their sixth studio album #DontBackDown. (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFRL19lQyV/?utm_medium=tumblr

When things don't go the way you want them to.. AND IT WILL... Or when folks TALK DOWN & DOUBT YOUR VISION... AND THEY WILL... 1- Say #FuckEm And 2- #ConsiderThis #ConsiderThis Courtesy of @triangle_hiphop & @kanyewest #MotivationMonday #BelieveInYourGoals #DontBackDown https://www.instagram.com/p/CPAHdRkHRlB/?utm_medium=tumblr

🤓🦋 #milan #gymmotivation #nevergiveup #dontbackdown #italianboy #beardman #trainingday #cute #dude (presso Milan, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO48rASl_N0/?igshid=1f217tmgb34lj