Discrimination Against Interracial Couples in America

Introduction: Personal Experience and the Problem

Imagine walking into a restaurant with your lover and almost everyone in the room breaks their necks to give the two of you an unwelcoming stare, even adding insulting whispers to accompany it. You wonder what could possibly cause this public humiliation. You ask yourself: Is there something on my face? Is something wrong with my clothes? What's wrong? Finally, your waitress comes over and tries to ease the tension by saying, "I think you two would make cute mixed babies." And you realize there's nothing on your face and nothing wrong with your clothes because those are things you can change. What's wrong are the things you have no control over: the person you love and your skin color.

From staring and pointing to asking questions like, "How does your family feel about you dating outside of your race?" people don't realize how racist they appear or how it makes an interracial couple feel like an outcast in their own country, where racism is supposed to be a thing of the past. I don't have to imagine being in that situation because I've lived it almost every time I was seen in public with my former boyfriend. And believe me, I've experienced things no same-race couple could fathom experiencing.

Way too often, people in this country discriminate against interracial couples. Therefore, it is important that we analyze the ways interracial couples are discriminated against, why interracial couples experience discrimination, and how we could gain acceptance for interracial couples.

Interracial couples experience things that same-race couples couldn't imagine happening to them. Some interracial couples experience being shunned from their families, hate crimes against them, and countless stereotypes. According to Human Rights First, "Interracial families frequently suffered vandalism, arson, threatening graffiti, verbal threats, and harassment in many parts of the United States. In some cases, racist harassment of neighbors escalated to personal assaults."

Forms of Discrimination Against Interracial Couples

This is important because we live in a country where everyone is considered to be equal, and yet if you date someone outside of your race, you suffer consequences. Same-race couples hardly ever live in fear of being seen together, so why should interracial couples have to?

To understand why interracial couples could possibly still be experiencing discrimination, we must examine the country's past. Some find it hard to digest the thought of two different races being together because of historical injustices. Unfortunately, slavery, segregation, and racism have been the norm in our country's past, and because of it, some people find it hard to embrace different races coming together or falling in love.

Historical Roots of Discrimination

According to Gary Herr, "Interracial marriage, known as miscegenation, was outlawed in many states until 1967. Prior to its legalization, interracial relationships were undercover. If discovered, punishment for miscegenation included imprisonment, beating, or death." This historical context is crucial: legal prohibition created generational attitudes that persist today, even though the laws themselves have long been struck down.

Now that we live in a new day and age where racial barriers are crossed every day—like having a biracial president, every race sharing the same workplace and schools, and having a law against racial discrimination—I find it hard to believe that we as a country cannot accept the love between two people of two different races.

Discrimination against interracial couples is a major problem that we can no longer ignore. Because of the various ways interracial couples are discriminated against and why they're still experiencing discrimination, a solution is desperately needed. So when you see an interracial couple being discriminated against, I dare you to stand up for them.

The Call for Action and Acceptance

Discriminating against someone is no different than bullying. According to Victoria Legal Aid, "Bullying is considered discrimination when someone treats you less favorably because of your personal characteristics, such as age, gender, race or religion." When someone is being bullied, you don't just sit there and let it happen because you could be the difference between someone really being hurt and, most importantly, not helping someone and watching them being victimized is just like you harassing them yourself.

Standing up for a person or persons who are discriminated against or bullied goes a long way. You could save someone from suicide, depression, and many other hardships you wouldn't want to go through. And ultimately, you might make the person who discriminates reevaluate their actions. It's apparent that interracial couples being discriminated against and why they experience discrimination remains a problem. It's also apparent that standing up for people when you see them being racially discriminated against would help address the problem.

For our country to continue to move forward, it is detrimental that we don't let the unity this country has built be torn down by our own selfishness and what we perceive is right. Imagine not being able to love someone just because you look different than them. Don't be the reason this country reverts to its old ways; be the reason people see past color and see love.

Conclusion: Building a More Inclusive Future

In front of you are pictures of happy interracial people. On the back of each picture, write what you truly see when you look at them. This simple exercise can help us all recognize that love, happiness, and human connection transcend racial boundaries.