By: KC Loesener
You would think by now that since it's 2017, the great racial divide should no longer exist. However, things have become a little more complicated with different races mixing within our rather large melting pot. Despite the many improvements regarding race relations, and interaction, there are still several setbacks that keep impeding individuals to continue to mix. Some of the factors can stem from fear of the unknown, racial bias due to stereotypes, guilt/fragility, fear of judgment by others, living up to social/economical standards, and racism.
Dating in itself is hard enough, but interracial dating can sometimes be a wonderful experience or challenging. Many of us admire the differences in each other, it could be cultural, racial, ethnic, and sometimes we're just simply attracted to another race. We must all learn to accept the diversity within ourselves and others. This will help us to better understand interracial relationships, dating, and marriage.
Fear of the unknown is generally a standard when it comes to dating outside of your race. The fear itself is sometimes coupled with insecurities like "will the person like me?" or "I've never dated outside of my race before, what should I do?" It's simple, be yourself. Dating interracially is a little different from dating your own race, in the that you need to make sure that you leave prejudgment, and stereotypes at the door. Some of us are guilty of classifying certain races based on what we see being displayed in movies, shows, and the news media. When dating, whatever you do, don't bring up something weird, or a comment of curiosity that may turn the other party off. Know the difference between curiosity and fetishism.
Let's take a closer look at racial bias. Racial bias is not the same as racism. To be racially biased means that there is a particular thing that you don't like about a specific race. Racial bias shows up when you believe in a certain stereotype. We are all guilty of this because it is human nature to make associations based on assumptions, categorize, and then create labels. This can be easily remedied by actually getting to know a person rather than prejudging them from afar. Racism is prejudice, discrimination, verbal, and physical abuse towards someone of a different race, all while remaining superiorly dominant and limiting a racial group by way of economics, equality, and social freedoms.
Many marriage couples today are finding that the challenges are generally acceptance of the relationship from family and friends. They may also encounter concealed, or even blatant racial injustices and even seething glares from onlookers. No matter the situation, it is best for the couple to understand that there may be challenges and they must face them together. Each individual in the relationship should know, and understand that the other person may have a certain level of passion regarding racial injustice that they are experiencing. The partner should empathize and become a sounding board for their significant other, they should never tell their partner how to feel, or how to react. Surprisingly, many marriages are destroyed due to lack of empathy or someone downplaying the situation.
We have to remember that marriage is a partnership. Each party has to show a level of respect and be able to understand their partner's frustrations. At no point should someone trivialize, or make light of a situation if a partner may feel that they are being discriminated against.
In society time and time again, we see racism. Will there be a time where people will learn and accept that races are mixing and having offspring?