Jordan said almost exactly what I would have said. Thanks, Jordan!! (Tried to rep you but have to spread it around.)
The idea that I would choose a college based on who I could date or meet is pretty funny. Besides, I was already dating someone when I left for college. But to answer your question, Appiah, I would say that I didn't NOT find BM attractive. But I literally did not have opportunities to interact with BM to be able to say "Yes, I'm totally attracted to black men." It's like, if you live in an area where you don't get snow, and being asked if you like snow. Well, I've seen snow, even had a little fall here, but never really experienced a substantial snowfall - how can I say if I like snow? (Maybe that's a terrible analogy, but you get my point.)
There was, in fact, a black guy at college who I had met while still in high school through an old boyfriend. We re-connected at college and I knew that he was very interested in me and I was definitely attracted to him. But I was very much in love with my bf back home, so I didn't act on that attraction. But if I had, I would have had to sneak around - I was 18, still technically living at home, expenses paid by my parents as Jordan said, and I wouldn't have been able to go public with that relationship.
To both you and TDK, I can see how a woman my age "suddenly" taking an interest in BM looks suspect. By the same token, an older BM who dated/married BW all his life and who suddenly takes an interest in WW is suspect too. (I know, I dated one such individual for a year and half and he never could handle the fact that I was white.) But TDK, you seem to assume that all older women with kids are on the decline. That's simply not true. You also seem to be saying that by WW choosing BM when they're older/overweight, we are settling for "sloppy seconds" because we can't get hot white men, and on the flip side, you are saying that the BM who go for older/overweight women are also settling for "sloppy seconds" because they can't get hot white (or black) women. At least that's what it sounds like to me.
Why can't it be that as we've gotten older, times change, people change, tastes change, more opportunities exist to meet other people of any and all races? I didn't have the luxury of online dating when I was dating the first time around. Also, I think it depends on what a person is looking for when they go outside their race. I, personally, am looking for a relationship, not hookups, not FWB. I wasn't looking to experiment. Now, you might have a point if that's all I was looking for and I suddenly develop an interest in BM. You might conclude that my reasons for that choice are suspect and you would probably be right.
I was actually quite surprised when I put profile online and began getting hits from just as many BM as WM. I didn't even entertain the notion that a BM would be interested in dating me, a WW. At that point, I asked myself, why am I limiting myself to WM just because that's what I've always known?