Black & White & Gray All Over!

1. Black & White& Gray All Over! Interracial Relationships: The Truth Be Known

2. History of Interracial Relationships • First “ mulatto” child recorded in 1620. Interracial relationships were not necessarilly common but they were ignored without any type of recourse. • Once slavery was made legal in the U.S., anti-miscenegation laws made interracial relationships illegal. • 1967 – Supreme Court overturns anti-miscenegation laws and legalized interracial relationships.

3. Interracial Relationships in Colonial Times • Most popular is the relationships between Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Married to show harmony and missionary success between English colonists and the Powhatans.

4. Anti-Miscenegation Laws • Interracial relationships were banned legally. • However white slave owners were know to still involve them selves with their black slaves. • Law passed stating that children born into this type of relationship carried the race of the mother and therefore the white man would not get into trouble

5. 1967 and Forward • Supreme Court overturns the anti-mascenegation law because it goes against the Equal Protection Clause of the 14thAmmendment. • Interracial couples come out of hiding and publically display their relationship. • Society is still quick to reprommand and judge those couples for chosing a mixed racial relationship.

6. Hypothesis • My hypothesis in regards to interracial relationships now days is; Although interracial relationships are legal in all 50 states, it is still not accepted as an ideal form of a relationship, and people are still not comfortable with the idea of interracial couples and families.

7. Research • I put together a 10 question page that included questions regarding current treds in interracial relationships and whether or not they are looks at as acceptable. • I interviewed 5 individuals from all forms of backgrounds, race, sexual orientation, religious orientation, and age.

8. Questionare • Do you believe that interracial relationships should be viewed as acceptable in today’s society? • Would your parents approve of you being involved in such a relationship? • Have you ever dated someone from a different race? • If so, did you notice any differences in how you were treated by those who love you? • Did you notice a different in how you were treated in public by strangers? • As a parent, would you want your child to date someone from a different race? • What difficulties do you think interracial couples face in society? • Do you believe that there is still racism towards interracial relationships in society today?? • Do you know anyone personally who is in an interracial relationship and does their relationship fit the “norm”? • Do you believe that a couple in an interracial relationship have the same chance at having a succesfsul relationship as a same race couple?

9. Noall E Wolff67 year old doctor from Canada • – I think interracial relationships are more predominant that in the past and for the most part are acceptable. • Absolutely not. I grew up in the 40’s and 50’s and integration was not allowed. I could not play with the blacks let alone consider dating one of them. • A – I have not dated anyone outside of my own race, however my daughter is married to a black man. • I can admit that I was guilty myself in how I treated them both in the beginning. I felt that they were making the wrong choice and I did not give them the appropriate support that a father should give. • I always notice small little snickering or people pointing at our family when Jason and Erin are together, but I’m sure it is just people being people, nothing vicious. • As I said, my daughter Erin has dated black guys before and I had always been very concerned for her. I didn’t have much to go off of other than what you hear or see in the media and on sports shows, so I wasn’t sure how they would treat her. I was wrong in doing that and am happy that she and Jason were married. • That is my biggest concern when it comes to their relationship because I think society is still learning how to accept things that go against the norm. I think they will face problems in their own relationship due to differences in how they were raised both religiously, culturally, and emotionally. I also worry about my grandchildren and what they will have to go through as they get older. • Anyone who claims that there isn’t racism in today’s society is reading through blind eyes. Racism towards anything different will always be around. It may not be in forms that are apparent to everyone, but it’s definitely there. • My daughter’s marriage is absolutely wonderful and I respect both her and Jason for being able to look past the differences and raise their family with undeniable love. They are raising 3 little girls to be accepting and loving to everyone. While their relationship may not look like the norm, it’s much more normal than a lot of the relationships that I see that aren’t interracial. • I still believe that interracial relationships are going to have a harder time staying together and surviving due to the amount of differences that are intertwined in the family, and the things that they will have to face because of those differences. But with hard work, love, respect, any marriage can make it.

10. Maurice Miller44 year old black mechanic from Jamaica • Absolutely! Who are we to say what type of relationships is or is not acceptable. • Although I married a beautiful black woman, I know my family would have accepted and loved her the same if she was white. • In College I dated a couple of white girls and a girl from India. It was no different of an experience. • I didn’t notice anything different from my own family and friends, but there was definitely a wall up with the parents of the girls. I don’t think they approved of their daughters dating me. • In public is just depended on where we were at. Lower into Cleveland where the populations is predominantly black it was much more apparent that we stood out and that people didn’t like to see that in their neighborhood. Out into the burbs though, we were just another couple. • My oldest daughter dated a white boy when she was 17. It last a little while and I really liked him. It didn’t bother us at all that he came around with her. • I think there are probably things that come up in interracial relationships which can cause problems or make it a little harder. Finding open acceptance in every aspect of society is really hard anyways. • I still think that there is racism towards these types of relationships but mostly from idiots who don’t know any better and are ignorant. • My cousin is the Chief of Police for the great city of Cleveland, and he is married to a wonderful white girl names Trish. She’s so great and they have been married for over 25 years. They have a white picket fenced home, 3 kids, 2 dogs, a hamster….sounds pretty normal to me! • I think interracial couples have the same chance at having a successful relationship, they just have to work a little harder and be a little more accepting and open eyed themselves.

11. Kathleen Baker53 year old nurse from Southern Texas • No I do not. Plain and simple, folks were not meant to mix. • I was raised by a black maid and that was the only acceptable interaction in my home. My daddy would have beat me if I dated a black. • No I haven’t. I don’t think it’s right. Maybe just the way I was raised. • I am sure that had I gone against what I knew was right and got involved with one, my whole family would have disowned me. • In public, that’s one place I would not be seen with a black man. That’s just asking for all types of trouble. • I know times have changed so I suppose if my son wanted to dated a black girl I would have to let him. He’s a grown man, but he’s the one who has to deal with it. • Couples like that are gonna face a lot of problems. They are just two different and there’s too much outside of their relationship that is going to be hard as well. • Of course there is still racism in society. There always will be. It’s just easier to eliminate all this mixing and stick with your own, then maybe racism would go away. • A girl I went to nursing college dated a black football player and later married him. She and I aren’t as close anymore, so I don’t know much about their personal relationship. They seem happy I suppose • It would be really hard to be in a relationship like that….too much extra stuff to deal with, so I think the divorce rate would be higher.

12. Tamika Rhodes19 year old biracial child • Yes I do think they should be accepted. My mom and dad are in one and I am a product of that. We are just as normal as the next family. • Of course my parents would approve. They are open to me dating whoever I want from whatever race or background. • I date a lot and it doesn’t matter to me what their race is. My family is super open and acceptable otherwise we would be hypocrits, right? • Like I said, my family is very accepting and always treated my dates with respect. There was never any issues with that topic. • In public it’s a little different. I think as a black woman I am expected to only date black guys, and I sometimes feel that people think I don’t deserve to date white guys or indian guys, almost like I’m not good enough. • As a parent I would definitely let my child date outside of their race. The more diverse the better I think. • Problems? I’m sure they face the same problems as any marriage. Maybe they have to be a little more accepting of each other’s differences, but that’s what you do when you love someone. • Unfortunately, racism is around us in a lot of ways, and racism towards interracial relationships is just one of them. • I know a ton of people, both family and friends, that are in interracial relationships. It’s becoming more and more common I think. And I look at it as adding extra flavor to the pot. • Having a successful relationship takes a lot of hard work, understanding, love, trust, and commitment. I don’t think any of those words are restricted by a racial boundary. So I think that if the interracial couple is supportive and love towards each other than they have just as much chance at being successful as the next couple.

13. Quyhn Johnson49 year old Vietnamese nurse • I do feel that relationships such as these should be acceptable and considered normal in society. • I left my family in Vietnam when I met my husband who was a soldier at the time. They did not approve. I did not speak to them for 13 years. • Where I grew up there were only Vietnamese people until the US soldiers came around. That was the first time I had seen a white man up close. I dated just one, and he is now my husband. • My family was very angry about it and spoke to me very badly. I shamed the family and was kicked out of the home. • The only place I felt somewhat accepted was around the other girls who were dating soldiers. But we were still looked down upon and laughed at and teased. • We have not children, but if we did I would allow them to love whoever they please. I would just want them to be happy. • Interracial couples face lots of different problems because of the differences in religious beliefs, cultural differences, et. So it is really important to compromise. • I to think there is still racism in society today. It’s sad, but something that will always be around. • I know of people in the same type of relationship as myself, but I don’t know them personally so I’m not sure I can comment on their relationship. • I think that it is more likely that interracial couples split up because they get tired of dealing with all of the differences internally as well as all the outside influence of society.

14. Random Pole Question I decided to do a random pole at my work one night just to see what the percentage was of people who think interracial relationships are acceptable in society. The pole was done completely anonymously and only one question was asked

15. Pole Question • Do you think interracial relationships and marriages are acceptable in society today?

16. Results to the Pole • 64% said no • 36% said yes • I was in absolute shock!

17. Review • I work in the medical field and am surrounded by a variety of people from all sorts of backgrounds. I expected that the older population would probably feel strongly that interracial relationships are not acceptable, but I had hoped that the younger population would have outnumbered them in thinking the opposite.

18. Conclusion • Based on the personal interviews as well as the pole question, I would say that my hypothesis was correct. Interracial relationships are still viewed as different and dangerous, and people still hold on to the belief that it is better to stick with your own kind.