Love's Not Color Blind

Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities

By: Kevin A. Patterson, Ruby Bouie Johnson - foreword

Narrated by: Kevin A. Patterson

The issues that make monogamous dating daunting for people of color—shaming and exclusion by white partners, being fetishized, having realities of everyday racism ignored—occur in polyamorous relationships too, and trying “not to see race” only makes it worse. To make polyamorous communities inclusive, we must all acknowledge our part in perpetuating racism and listen to people of color. Love's Not Color Blind puts forward the framework—through research, anecdotal testimony, and analogy—for understanding, identifying, and confronting racism within polyamorous communities.

©2018 Kevin A. Patterson (P)2025 Thornapple Press

Critic reviews

"Love’s Not Color Blind belongs on the shelf next to The Ethical Slut. For both people of color and their allies, this is a powerful offering that dismantles myths about polyamory and builds a bridge to better understanding." (Claire Foster)

Someone Like Me Wrote About Non-Monogamy

The thing I was most apprehensive about turned out to be the thing I liked the most about the book—it’s not a how-to guide. It was about the importance of being yourself, being introspective, and showing up. All the ways he talks about making space for himself and others is inspiring. I especially appreciate the section for how whites folks can do better for the greater community.