Interracial Relationships: Marriage, Adoption, and LGBTQ Couples

Introduction

Interracial relationships have long been at the forefront of debate in the United States and throughout the world. In fact, interracial relationships were once illegal, and some individuals were punished by death if found with a person of a different race. This paper explores interracial relationships as they pertain to marriage, adoption, and gay and lesbian relationships. It also examines how people feel about different races dating, and the advantages and disadvantages of being in an interracial relationship.

As a result of the history of racial relations in the United States, interracial relationships have long been controversial. Although controversy over interracial relationships has always existed and continues to exist, the number of interracial couples has continued to rise. There are all types of interracial relationships, including straight and gay partnerships, as well as interracial adoptions.

Although most people envision interracial relationships in terms of Black and White individuals, the most prevalent type of interracial relationship is between White men and Asian women. It is unclear why this particular pairing is the most common, but there appears to be considerably less social objection to it compared with interracial relationships between White and Black people.

Trends and Attitudes Toward Interracial Marriage

As it relates to interracial marriage and relationships, objection often stems from the belief that the races should not mix. Some people believe that racial groups should remain pure and that there should be no interracial marriage or interracial offspring. This attitude has largely been attributed to White power movements, but there are also Black individuals who object to interracial marriages for similar reasons. In addition, many Black people object to interracial marriage because of the historical mistreatment that Black Americans have experienced at the hands of White people.

In recent years there has been a growing percentage of interracial couples and interracial marriages. According to one article, people under the age of 30 tend to be more color-blind than older individuals (Henderson). Young people appear to be far more accepting of interracial relationships than previous generations. One study of 2,600 college students found that nearly a quarter of participants had been involved in an interracial relationship (Knox et al.). In addition, 50% of those participating in the study said they would not mind being in an interracial relationship at some point in the future (Knox et al.). Data from the U.S. Census Bureau similarly suggests a substantial increase in the number of interracial relationships over the past 50 years.

The degree of acceptance that interracial couples receive is most often shaped by their geographic location (Henderson). In the Southern region of the United States and in smaller cities across the country, there is still a considerable degree of hostility directed toward interracial relationships. However, in larger, more diverse cities such as New York, people tend to be more accepting of such unions.

Geographic and Cultural Influences on Acceptance

According to a study conducted by Cornell University, Black people born in America are more likely to marry a White person than Black people born in other places, such as the Caribbean or nations in Africa. The study's researchers explained:

"A current question is whether the new black population — from the West Indies and Africa — will, over time, more strongly identify with the native-born African-American population or with the majority white population. There also is a growing literature on ethnic antagonisms between native-born blacks and African-born immigrants. Hence our interest in intermarriage among diverse black populations — intermarriage reveals important information on inter-group relations (Crawford)."

Conclusion

It is evident that the prevalence of interracial relationships has grown tremendously in recent years as it pertains to marriage, adoption, and gay and lesbian relationships. The research indicates that young people are more likely to engage in interracial relationships, and there is an increasing number of interracial partnerships within the gay and lesbian population. While the advantages of interracial relationships include greater cross-cultural understanding, the disadvantages — including social discrimination and identity challenges for biracial children — remain real obstacles. Overall, shifting generational attitudes and growing diversity in urban areas continue to push the trend toward greater acceptance of interracial unions across all relationship types.