Interracial issues

Brittney Miller

Professor Thomas

Composition 101

29 November 2012

Color Blind

Studies show that 8.4 percent of U.S marriages are all interracial. Even though it is a common matter, many people do not know the issues that these couples face. The most uprising issues that were brought up is if interracial marriage should be illegal, Does biracial children have a hard time being accepted into society, and does the cultural difference affect couples everyday lives. The children, interracial couples, and the “mainstream” society all have different view points on these issues. Most of biracial children have little knowledge of the struggle of the interracial couple. They do however; know that fitting in society is a hard one. The interracial couples on the other hand, know of these issues and believe that they are the ones to blame for their children’s struggles. The mainstream society also has little knowledge of these issues; psychologist and family therapist believes that the culture differences of the couples are the main reason for the issues that interracial couples face. They also believe that biracial children suffer from identify lost because they don’t know how to fit into society.  But with the right help and family support these issues can be resolved.

            Interracial marriages are growing throughout the world. It was just last generation that people of different race could legally get married in all 50 states. Nowadays society doesn’t think twice about interracial marriages. “Most Americans say they approve of interracial marriage, with more than 6 in 10 saying they're ok if a family member marries outside his or her group.” (Haq) Even though it is a common thing, some people still have issues about interracial marriages. Just last year the government did a Public Policy Polling that showed that “29 percent of likely GOP voters surveyed in Mississippi believe that interracial marriage should be illegal.” Also they surveyed Alabama and it showed that “21 percent of likely GOP voters polled in Alabama believe that interracial marriage should be illegal.”(The Huffington Post) Why do those percentages of voters want to ban interracial marriages? I believe that they simply don’t like change and growth in our society.

 Even though some interracial couples believe that marrying someone outside their race is more stressful than marrying someone of the same race, they still believe that they should be able to marry anyone that they please. “Interracial couples report varying degrees of tolerance or hostility from their communities and from within their own families.” (Interracial Marriage) Some interracial couples parents disapprove of their children marrying outside their race because some parents are sensitive about the past prejudice and discrimination. Also some African American women doesn’t like interracial marriages because they believe that marriageable black men is already so small and they believe that their losing them to white women.

I believe that interracial marriages shouldn’t even be thought of being illegal. I believe that everyone has a choice on who they want to marry and should be able to marry that person in any state that they choose. The parents of interracial couples should be supportive in their choices, and shouldn’t put any pressures on the couples.

            Another issue that was brought up is if biracial children have a hard time fitting into society. Believe it or not but in school kids tend to sit and associate with people of their same race. But where would the biracial children sit? With the black kids or with the white kids? In the article by “Many parents of interracial children understand the pressure placed on their children by society, other children, and some professionals, they are often more committed than the average parent” (Haq). Some interracial parents feel like it’s their fault that their child is having a hard time fitting in. They feel like if they didn’t marry outside their race then their child would be accepted more easily.

 Society has a hard time accepting biracial children because they don’t know how to treat them. Society thinks that “they have to place the child in one race or the other no matter how the children see themselves.” (HubbyNet) I don’t agree with this, I believe that the child should be able to decide where and who they want to associate with. It is important for the child to know both sides of their culture so they can feel comfortable with their environment. Traci P. Baxley an author of Childhood Education wrote that “Earlier studies concluded that biracial children were confused about their identity due to their lack of ability to connect completely to either of their heritages.” Some research say that if the interracial family lives somewhere where interracial couples are common then the child would have an easier time fitting in.

            Another big issue that interracial couples face is if culture differences affect their everyday lives. I believe that they do, when you have two people of different races you have many differences in beliefs. This is because each race is brought up differently and learns in his/her way. “If for instance the woman is from a country where women were traditionally housewives, with no aspirations of a career of their own, when they marry a man from the west they may immediately run into a problem.” (HubbyNet) The difference in culture also leads to prejudice remarks towards interracial marriages. Interracial couples say that they main people who say these rude remarks are from their own families. In my own personal experience with my interracial relationship, it is hard for us to agree on things because of our different views of life because of our race. We always end up saying we don’t do a certain thing this way or that way because we learned how to do these things differently growing up. Also differences in the way interracial couples prepare food and foods that they eat can sometimes become an issue. Interracial couples have to learn how to understand one another and be open to different experiences to make the relationship work.

            Even though these issues are still around today, interracial couples have to keep their heads up and understand that they may face difficult times. With the right help from psychologist and family biracial children can learn who they are and know both sides of their cultural. Interracial couples also should look past the people who don’t believe in interracial marriages and go on with their lives’. There are many cultural differences in interracial relationships but with proper understandings and help from counselors interracial couples can have a happy relationship. I believe that interracial relationships are a beautiful thing and that anyone who is in love should be able to marry anyone that they please. I also believe that some interracial couples are in the relationship for all the wrong reasons and that biracial child does have a hard time fitting in society.