Abstract

“Ebony & Ivory Live Together In Perfect Harmony: The Progression of Interracial Marriage Since the 1960s” (250 words)

The time of the 1960s is known as the rise of the counterculture and a time of social revolution due to the rebellion of society against the norms and restrains of the government.  Following this decade, American culture challenged taboos such as racism and the acceptance of interracial marriage throughout the nation. This dissertation focuses on the progression of interracial marriage and how the government, as well as the people, changed their perspectives on the matter. Relationships between people of different races were heavily frowned upon in the past and racism is still a problem our society faces daily. Up until recently, laws have been changed over segregation and miscegenation. An analysis of quantitative research previously done will contribute to this study to provide evidence of shifts in socioeconomic status as well as data on the rise of interracial marriage throughout the country over the past thirty years by looking at census data. Also, though analysis of journal articles, oral histories, and interviews, this dissertation will investigate the development and transformation of people’s attitudes towards interracial relationships over the past fifty years.  It will provide an explanation on the journey of interracial marriage along with a personal insight on the matter by demonstrating how interracial marriage affects families, parents and children alike.  In addition, views on race and relationships have also altered along with societal changes. Generational differences and values have been renewed with these changes, making way for new traditions and deviated norms on the subject of interracial marriage.

Proposal

Ebony & Ivory Live Together In Perfect Harmony: The Progression of Interracial Marriage Since the 1960s

I am working on the topic of the development of interracial marriage since the 1960s because I want to find out why it took years for people to accept these relationships and amend laws to help my reader better understand how views change based on generational differences.

There has always been a struggle with the acceptance of interracial relationships in American society.  My focus on this topic will start on research in the 1960s, primarily during the times of the Civil Rights movement.   Relationships between those of different races were not socially acceptable, so marriage was, of course, forbidden.  Each state even had its own laws against miscegenation up until the year 2000 when Alabama finally changed its constitution. You could cross state lines and not be sure how your relationship would be treated. How crazy is it that people of different races could not even live together without it being illegal?? Change was gradual and did not happen all at once. I want to look into the differences between the generations back then and compare their culture/society/beliefs to the generations after them, and to our generation now.

I became more interested in the topic of interracial marriage when I was in high school.  My school was very racially diverse and I found myself in an interracial relationship my senior year.  When I got to college, it was even more common to see people in interracial relationships and, to me, it was something beautiful (not to say that same-race relationships are not beautiful).  In my generation, a majority of my cousins date outside their race, but not with ease. The generation before us did not grow up in America, they immigrated from the Philippines and have had to learn American culture and accept that we were not going to always date in our own race, but it is not always easy for them.  They feed into stereotypes and are somewhat scared of something that is unfamiliar or unlike them in various ways - education, religion, family values, etc. These are the generational differences that we have to learn from and grow from.

Ebony & Ivory Live Together In Perfect Harmony

I am working on the topic of the development of interracial marriage because I want to find out why it took decades for people to accept these relationships (and amend laws) to help my reader better understand how views change based on generational differences.

Mixed Feelings

In my first blog I discussed how my interests pertained to me wanting to become an elementary school teacher.  But I actually plan to do my research on interracial dating and marriage.  My main research question is:  What are the prejudices that people have against interracial dating/ marriage? I want to research how long, generally, these prejudices have been going on and where they originated from.  The answer to that is probably really complicated and starts from the beginning of time, but I am going to limit my time frame to the 1960s and the Civil Rights movement to the present. 

Historically, interracial relationships have been frowned upon and even outlawed in some states.  But that has not stopped these relationships in the past, and it is becoming more common today.  Some important historical figures of our past are mixed, including Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington,  and W.E.B. DuBois.  Also, during times of slavery, people had interracial relationships, usually kept secret, but there was also rape.  War also creates that opportunity for mixing, and I’m not saying that is necessarily a good thing.  I think the acceptance of interracial relationships also differs from region to region, north, south, east, and west.

We watched a video in my AMST class on Asian American Studies about this woman, Renee Tajima Pena, who traveled the country studying Asian America.  She came across the topic of interracial relationships and asked several people what they thought of it.  The answers were generally the same.  One man, Victor Wong, had a strict father who believed heavily in tradition and the Asian culture.  So when Wong married a black woman, his father was furious, her parents were too.  They had no support or approval, but they still married.  The Burtanog sisters from New Orleans were similar.  They listed the ranking of what races were acceptable to marry.  White was at the top every time and black was at the bottom, every time, Asian was usually near the top and Mexican was also forbidden. 

I have a bunch of other questions as starting points too.  I already know from previous research that much of interracial relationships are affected mainly by family.  Although in the past, these relationships were mostly frowned upon by society, family and traditions have a big impact on the decision to date outside their race.  I think it has to do with pleasing parents or rebelling against them.  Also, religion comes into play as well.  More recently, I feel like the approval of interracial relationships is generational and has to do with how assimilated people are into American culture.  Now I know that is confusing too since we do not really know how to define American culture, but I think that the more open people are to accept others (race, religion, traditions, etc.), the more they can accept interracial relationships.  

So in conclusion to this blog, I want to look into the history of interracial relationships, regional differences, and generational opinions on it.

word count: 498

How I Plan To Save The World: Step 1

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Do I study what my parents want and become a doctor or lawyer or some profession that guarantees money?  Or do I go with no money, but follow my heart?  Being the rebellious spirit I am, I decided to come into college and major in American Studies, hopefully minor in Psychology, and work towards becoming an elementary school teacher.  I love kids, plain and simple.  And I am in love with the idea of studying culture and understanding the society we live in.  I want to be able to apply that knowledge to how I will teach my students and how they will begin to make sense of our world.  Besides teaching them everything straightforward, I want to show them how to apply what they learn to their everyday lives, because that’s how they are really going to understand it, right?

Also, psychology has always been an interest of mine, but realistically, I do not think I can end up with my own practice with the office and the chair asking people, “how does that make you feel?”  I still want to be able to have the knowledge to help my students and help people in general. Ultimately, I just want to make a difference.  That sounds so cliché but I want to change lives and I believe that starts from a very young age.  Saving the world has to start somewhere and I am no Superman, but if I can do something that makes the world a better place, then I will be very happy.

word count: 273