This weekend marks the Passover and Easter holiday.  For our, Black and Jewish family, we’ll be marking Passover with a Seder that tells the story of our Jewish ancestors’ Exodus from Egypt and remembering, too, the analogous story of African-Americans’ march out of slavery to freedom.

For our family, while the remembrance of past bondage is not easy, the Seder itself is a joyous time to be with family in an open, inclusive and loving environment.  Not everyone is so fortunate.

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, the movie starring Sidney Poitier as the Black fiancee of a White woman who comes to her house to meet her parents for dinner illustrated for America the issue families not embracing loved ones of another race.  That movie was released in 1967, the year I was born (it was also the year of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Loving v. Virginia, which made unlawful any laws in existence that prevented people from marrying those of another race).

Since 1967, much has changed.  For one, I’m now 47 going on 48.  I have a wife who is Black, and when I brought her home for dinner, no one batted an eyelash (nor, indeed, di her family pause for one minute when I walked through their door).  Together, we have son.  And, he is Biracial, much like the President of the country.  So, too, the number of interracial marriages is on the rise. So, progress is apparent.

On the other hand, far too many people who date or marry those of another race find themselves having a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner moment at home.  And, that’s a tragedy, for them and their families.

Well, if there was ever a time to make amends and move forward, these holidays of Easter and Passover, during which we celebrate rebirth and escape from bondage, are the time to do just that.

So, for those of you worried about bringing “Guess Who” home to dinner — go for it.  Be bold. Bring them home.

And, for the families out there worried about “Guess Who” — take a deep breath, let go of past prejudices, and embrace the future and your family members’ loved one.  You all will be richer for it.

To learn more or to join the conversation, please join me on Twitter at: @barnettcomic and use the hashtag #multiracialfamilyman; also please check out my podcast, “Multiracial Family Man” on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/multiracial-family-man/id969793342?mt=2