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.
I love your topic and I think it has great relevance. I was wondering, since you plan to discuss you topic in context to the Civil Rights movement of the 60s, are you going to mention other races in your paper, or just African Americans?
ReplyDeleteI really like where your topic is going. Almost shoving it in the older generations face that interracial relationships of any kind are acceptable in our generation.
ReplyDeleteI can see a parallel between the Civil Rights movement and interracial marriage to what is currently going through state legislation in a lot of states: gay marriage. Our generation is not completely open to the idea of gay marriage, and even more of our older generations find it incredibly hard to understand that two people of the same sex could ever love each other. It is different from them and so they fear it.
(personal question that doesn't have to be answered): did your parents approve or disapprove of your interracial relationship?
I think this topic is awesome! You've made great progress. I like the background information you've included, and think that would be good to include in your paper since most people don't know the facts you've included. Also, good job for looking at generational differences. That's definitely important!
ReplyDeleteI love your topic. Although I am not in an interracial relationship, I feel I can relate. My godbrother is white and I am black. Even though we are in the year 2012, people still have an issue with my situation. I just think it's crazy because we taught him to see no color. Goodluck with your paper!
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you have grounded your topic from a time period. Also, it is great that you have a personal connection with the topic. You mention the generation part, I think that will be another key point to look at in your research.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a true and important topic. It is such a wonderful thing that interracial relationships are legal, and it is so great that it is becoming more and more common. It will be interesting to see though why so many people still can't accept these relationships.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is amazing. It is sad that the law was amended fairly recently. Looking back I remember hearing my mom talk about dating outside her race and how she emphasized it like it was still the juiciest story on the block. Now that these ideas are more widespread the ignorance, shame, and fear connected with interracial marriage will disappear.
ReplyDeleteI love this topic mainly because I love diversity. Coming from an all-white town in the middle of suburbia, being in an interracial relationship is definitely a big deal and is even frowned upon in the society I grew up in. I don't get it, I never really thought that color was a big deal, and I still don't. I really like the touch of personal experience when you mention your relationship during your senior year...keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteChildren is always an interesting aspect of inter-racial relationships. When has to worry, especially when we think of concepts like covering, of what the children of such a relationship will be exposed to in society.
ReplyDeleteVery controversial topic. I completely believe in inter-racial marriage; however, I know it is definitely still an issue with our parents generation. Although it is not said outright, there is a certain amount of tension about the topic. I think it would be great to go into further depth about this subject just so we can open up the older generation's eyes!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic! I like how you grounded it in a certain era, this will allow for a very focused and convincing argument. While people claim they are not racist, there are still stigmas that plague the minds of the older generations. Exposing these discontinuities could really move our society forward.
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ReplyDeleteI like the topic, good job on finding a time frame, though I think you need to still make it more specific. Perhaps focus just on the 1960's and compare to couples today. Just some kind of additional characteristic for your sample to make your study more concise.
ReplyDeleteSince interracial marriage affects the family the most, I'd start researching anthropology journals about Kinship and lineage structures. Look at almost any ethnography, and the researcher cannot stop talking about family structure.