Ruth talks a lot about her upbringing in her book called “Life through The Eyes Of An Interracial Couple” and Their Dreams of a Color Blind American, which she wrote with her husband Steve. Ruth lived several years of her life in the Denver Projects called The Curtis Park Projects and the Arapahoe Projects. Ruth had a balance of learning how to learn in school survive on the streets and fight to protect herself, but she was also in the Girls Scouts and became a Born Again Christian in the 60’s through a college group called “Bible Time Boosters” who were White students that were Colorblind. She went Christmas Caroling in the neighborhood with the Youth Group in the Neighborhood Church who were mostly White but who were not afraid of Black skinned children. Ruth did almost everything other children influential neighborhoods did just without the money.
Ruth a native of Denver Colorado (a Black Multiracial Woman, Career employee with the Federal Government and Businesswoman) met Steve in March 1980. Ruth was not attracted to Steve at first, but he saw something special in her immediately. They became friends, and were engaged the week after Memorial Day 1980. Their engagement brought a firestorm of controversy. Steve’s Pastor refused to marry them, but Ruth’s Pastor did. After getting Ruth’s 3 Children’s approval, Steve and Ruth were married November 21, 1980. One of Steve’s friends gave Steve a list of 10 reasons why he shouldn't marry Ruth: #1 ” She’s Black” #2 “She has 3 Children”, and #3 “She doesn't go to our Church.” Steve went down the aisle as a single man and came back as the proud father of Ruth’s 3 children (whose lives he was very instrumental in shaping). This marriage led to a life-long crusade to help America deal from the heart of its racial issues.
The Whites first shared their story of hurt, deceit, and racism to a crowd of over 2000 in 1981. Radio, Television and Print Media interviews followed over the years. Ruth and Steve became Certified Christian Counselors in 1984 and that same year started a national organization to promote positive dialog and support for Interracial and Multiracial families called “A Place For Us/National.” It is the nation’s only known organization of its kind promoting racial harmony. The Whites were Ordained as Non Denominational Ministers by Living Waters Inc in 1988. Wherever they went people kept saying they needed to put their story in writing. They wrote their autobiography and published it in 1988.
Ruth & Steve were guests on many local and national radio and television talk shows and news programs, such as CNN, Leeza Gibbons and Montel Williams. They have appeared or have been quoted in such Print Media as The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and have been asked to speak to many teens on High School and College Campuses on race relations. Steve and Ruth were on the Speakers Circuit for San Diego State University, and frequent speakers at South Coast College.
The Whites helped produce a PSA with USA Television on being Colorblind. Through their organization this couple has been contacted to consult on casting for a movie starring Denzel Washington by Tri-star called “Devil In A Blue Dress”, and Viacom/Showtime’s Mr. & Mrs. Lovings with Lela Rochon and Timothy Hutton. The movie was about how an interracial couple through then Attorney General Robert Kennedy overturned laws in the nation against interracial marriage. Steve and Ruth have been featured in Women In Film’s Magazine, Reel News.
Ruth’s passion became producing and hosting their radio and television talk shows, and working on such projects like The Post Oscar showcase which was developed to show top executives in the entertainment industry the best in up and coming producers, Directors, Actors and Writers, and having them get work based on their qualifications not race, age. Supporters of this project included Carl Reiner, Beau Bridges, Andy Garcia, Susan Surrandon, Sejourney Weaver, and many others. Top Executives or their representatives such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Bocho attended this event. Sponsorship was received from Universal, and Paramount Studios. Ruth believes that Whitney Houston’s version of Cinderella was inspired by the principles of the work of The Post Oscar Showcase.
The Whites raised 3 lovely children with sound and strong principles. La Vonda M. Gollner the baby is a Child Psychology Major, President of her own film company “Up Productions” Author of “Never Say Never” The Survival Journal, which has received rave comments from best Selling Author of “Protecting The Gift, Child Advocate and Security Expert Gaven de Becker, and from Child Safety Activist Mark Klaas. Le Jeune T. Bryant, the middle child is an International Fashion Model and has been featured in Bridal Magazine, Pacific Sunwear, NFL Sports, and has graced the runways for such top designers as Perry Ellis, John Vervatos, Russell Simmon’s Phat Farm Collection, Eddie Rodriquez, and Kawasaki. Pershaun M. Reynolds the eldest holds a B.A in Psychology, and is a Graduate of Chapman University and is a Stock Broker Investigator.
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