Mama Knows Best: Taye Diggs Says “She Knew I’d Marry A White Girl”

 

Taye Diggs, philanthropist, actor, and author of the recent book, Chocolate Me, claims that his mother is not at all surprised by his choice of mate.

During a recent appearance on Sway’s morning satellite radio show, Diggs talks about meeting his in-laws for the first time --- cracking jokes about them being members of the Ku Klux Klan with burning crosses in their backyard.

After reassuring Sway that he felt really welcomed into their family and giving them credit for being “great grandparents”, Diggs says that his mother’s reaction was absolutely priceless:

My mother said “I told you!” She always thought – I hate this, but I’m being honest! [laughs] – she said, “I always knew you were gonna marry a white girl!”

Diggs’ wife, Indina Menzel, is an acclaimed, Tony-Award winning actress, singer and songwriter, best known for the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked.

In 2004, Menzel received hate mail because of her inter-racial marriage, with one letter claiming to “do bodily harm to Diggs,” according to police sources.

In a 2010 interview, Diggs spoke on the vitriol he and his wife have been subjected to over the years:

“You know… I understand,” Diggs says. “It’s a situation that’s unfortunate, but at the same time, being a black man, I understand. I understand the idea of having something that you call your own, and how it could feel when a member of your clan, so to speak, chooses to be with someone from another clan. I get how that could make someone feel rejected.

“But that being said, I can’t tolerate that because it’s 2010 and I don’t have time for that. When I was younger I did get caught up with that. When I was growing up, there were guys who dated everybody, there were guys that only dated black girls, and there were guys who only dated white girls. Back then, I used to judge the black guys that only dated white girls and for so long, I wanted people to know, I’m not one of those guys.

“But as I got older, I realized what the important things in life are. I can’t worry about changing the way that people see me. If you like me, you like me, if you don’t, you don’t. And luckily, I’ve been just fine, you know what I mean? I think people are becoming more understanding. Once people realize that this is a real relationship and that I’m not with my wife because she’s white, but because she’s a wonderful person, all that other stuff falls by the wayside.”

Diggs and Menzel have one son, 2 year-old Walker.