Interracial relationships can be a touchy subject. There are far many more pros than there are cons, but there are problems that come up. I am currently in an interracial relationship, and it is the best relationship I've had yet. Lets look at some of the pros:
Culture: If you are dating someone of another racial origin, you may be able to learn more about that person's traditions and customs, assuming they even observe them. This can be very interesting.
Family History: Simlar to culture, it is always very interesting to hear about how someone's family came to America or whatever country you may be living in. This can lead to deep discussion with both the person and the person's parents/family.
Exotic: The overall feeling of being with someone of a different racial origin can be very appealing. In many cases it feels like something completely new and fresh, and you get to experience new things, such as culture and history as I already mentioned, among other things.
In terms of other Pros, you can basically look forward to whatever else you enjoy in a relationship with a new person. Being white, I prefer asian women, and being in my first interracial relationship in my entire life, I am very happy and love the new experience...its a relatively young relationship at this point but probably the best one I've ever had. However, there are problems that can occur within an interracial relationship that do not necessarily apply to the two people involved.
Acceptance: Its disgusting, but some people just can't accept the fact that people of different races can be together. I personally don't understand it, but for any of us born post 1960, it can be especially troublesome. The parents of our generation, particularly of those of us born within the past 2 or 3 decades (I was born in 1982 myself), we may have to deal with a parent or parents who look down on interracial relationships. Unfortunately they were young at a time where race riots and racial hatred was at its all time high, and that has influenced MANY people of the older generation. There are many people of that generation who accept it as well...you can't hold grudges for things that didn't even affect you, but some people are so reserved and traditionalist that the idea of a mixed couple is disturbing to them. It is best to ignore those types of people.
Revenge: The WORST reason to get involved in an interracial relationship, and one of the most frequent reasons that people do (in the past anyway), is to get back at parents or other family members who are racist. This is the wrong reason to involve yourself with anyone...it makes the relationship empty and gives it a sense of obligation rather than love. It also leads to conflict and family breakdowns. Some friends may also not accept it, and using a person to get back at them is just plain wrong.
Parents: Basically fitting into the 'acceptance' category, parents of either partner in the interracial relationship may have very reserved and 'tradtional' views on how and who their son/daughter should date. This is ESPECIALLY prevalent in black/'white interracial relationships, which are typically the most unaccepted and frowned upon type of interracial relationship. In most cases this simply won't be, but there are many parents out there who do not approve of their son or daughter dating someone of a different racial origin. It is sad, but many just do not grasp the fact that, in this day and age, freedom of choice and independence is stronger than it has ever been.
The bottomline is, you can expect the same pros and cons in an interracial relationship that you would in a 'traditional' relationship. Religion is just as much of an issue for some people as race. Some people have no problem at all. Overall, do what YOU want to do...not what someone else wants you to do, and not what completel strangers expect of you. Interracial relationships can be a wonderful thing for both people, and you shouldn't let the opinions of others be a determining factor in what you decide.
On a personal note...people who look down on interracial relationships solely based on origin make me sick.
Comments
Great stuff!
by mister_c on November 17th, 2004
Your cons are the same as those listed by Joey91186, except yours are more eloquently put.
by Kim Siever on November 17th, 2004
wow... i'm impressed with the depth of this response!
by LindaK711 on November 18th, 2004
Good answer... Watch Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever"
by James Edwards on November 19th, 2004
very well said :-)
by enchanteresse on November 20th, 2004
excellent
by katscratcedme on January 11th, 2005
I dated a Korean once.
by mungobaby on January 16th, 2005
Expressed your view very nicely... :)
by Aliciaprat on March 14th, 2006
subjective; where's the support for your arguments?
by Answers101 on March 17th, 2006
I'm in a great inter-racial relationship with my partner but I can't help to think about the future and how we would raise our children. Our traditions are very different yet we both want to pass them down to our children. Any advice?
by diddle on October 9th, 2006
I too have the same concerns and was wondering if you have gotten advice from other places and could share that info with me?
by diamond on August 7th, 2007
Haile. My relationship is under great strain as i am black and she is white, the truth is that i dont know if i agree with it or not. what i do know is that this is one of the best relationships i will ever have and that i love her loads, about every few months we have an "conversation" in which her fellings get dammaged, and i am brought to question what i am doing. Every time i come to the same conclushion, we have been through too much to give up now, but every time she asks me questions i ask my self every day, my family are very "triditional" and to an extent so am i, but i am lerning that u should never give a good thing up unless the cons out way the pros. Yes we have issues in public and strong ones in my community howeaver i feel that we are better for keeping it up and that both of us are maturing a great deal through the issues we face and further more their is no one of my own race which i would chose over her, she is the love of my life and i would die to protect her.
by Haile_H on January 23rd, 2011