What is the cause of society's changing views today on IR?

Of course this topic mainly refers to black men and white women couples, and even though in the past (before, during, and after slavery and segregation) there were relations between black male/white female couples, as well as white male and black female couples, and even today, they are still being looked down upon by certain individuals, whether they are active in hate groups or not, but nonetheless, it seems like in this modern time (2005), the stigma behind a lot of interracial relations are slowly deteriorating, along with more couples getting together and I'm curious as to why it would start happening now. People don't just change their minds overnight about controversial issues like this one, and I know for sure that even if the mass media is influencing some of it, that can't be the main source of it, nor can curiosity/experimentation, or just acceptance of other people's personal life choices overall.

Following up on the thread 'diamondlife' started (3 times :lol, and the previous threads written in here about new found love in interracial relationships, I wonder, what is causing the views of interracial relationships (mostly between black men and white women) to change as much as it has been changing recently? Can there be some higher influence other than the above ones stated?

 

For one thing, racism has been stigmatized since the 1960s for the first time in US history. Also, I think that generation advance is a major factor. If you were born anytime during the 1970s and after, you were raised in a world in which (even though there were still racist parents and many individuals) people like MLK (with his vision of interracial brotherhood) became national heroes on par with people like Abe Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, and also when racism is now publically condemned, in comparison to an era like the 1920s, when the KKK became a major political force, gaining control of several local, and statewide governments. People born before 1960 still have vivid memories of segregation and the bittle racial struggles of the 1960s. It is true that the younger a person is, the more likely the person is to date/marry outside their race. The kids born during the 1990s get along even better. So as time goes on, this trend will only accelerate, especially as older generations come to the end of their lifecycle train.

 

Personally, I feel the racism has just gone underground. I found it much easier dating IR in the late 70's. It just didnt seem to carry the baggage it does now.

 

Great question SardonicGenie. I also get the feeling that these types of relationships are slowly becoming more accepted by our peers, and i think that it has an awful lot to do with people who are "race breakers" or people who are accepted and loved by both black and white people. For instance, Eminem is a race breaker, Snoop Dogg is a race breaker, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'neal, Tiger Woods, Allen Iverson, Halle Berry, etc..... These people are loved by both black and white people, and i think that when we have more people who continue to break racial barriers like this, that's when the stigmas slowly start to come down i think. I also think that the fact that the really racist generation of the past is kinda starting to die off now, and the children that they're leaving behind are a little more rebellious, and a little more liberal when it comes to race and interracial dating in my opinion. But i could be wrong of course.

 

Strange how the Klan gained control over most of America back in the day when the organization was founded, and yet, it still all came crashing down, even when times were still so very racist and segregated...

and, I would say that most extreme racism is underground, since the Aryan Union has been rising over the years in parts of the world other than the USA, like Germany and Russia, only to fall, but then pick up on the Internet in today's modern time again. They have at least over 100 hate sites out there, and they reach all white demographics worldwide...

but, nowadays, most of them are just all talk...

however, people still commit hate crimes today...

and, celebrities do help to break the barriers in their own way. Maybe that is because they have a presence along with a talent (well, some of them anyway) that convinces people to open their minds a little more, if not entirely.

 

I think some people keep it more to themself today aswell, as racism is seen as wrong now.

 

[quote='Sup.]I think some people keep it more to themself today aswell, as racism is seen as wrong now.[/quote]

Yeah, but they personally don't see nor do they understand WHY it is wrong...

and, that's why we are still stuck with these racists...

but, you can't discern them until they give themselves away, like with stereotyping, neurotic-ism, jealousy, etc.

 

I think music and sport has contributed to better understanding between races.
Music especially.
Listen to the music blaring from most white guys' cars.It is R&B
Whenever an R&B artist performs ,the crowd is mixed :smt020
My 2 cents.

 

Good post. This is very true. Sport also as you say, teams and even national teams are now more mixed. Italy and Spain still sees racism from the fans though I hear.

 

I know. I can hear most of it while walking down a street block. Sometimes, it's rap music too.

 

Yes...
Sports
Music
eh,eh
and don't you think IR porno has done its fair share as well :?: :?:

 

I have to slightly disagree with you on this one SardonicGenie. It may seem like society is becoming more accepting of bm/ww unions and in some ways that may be true. But I also think that nowadays, like Fly Girl said, racism is more hidden in America than it used to be. The reason for that is because these days you can't just go string up a nigga for whistling at a white lady unless you want to go to prison or get killed by the very nigga you try to lynch, hahaha. At the present time, IR dating is protected by law. Thanks to the civil rights movement, bm have the same rights as wm.

Still, bm/ww sex and dating isn't as accepted as wm/bw dating. I was reading a current article about IR sex in the porn industry and was surprised (or maybe not surprised) that ww are being told that having sex on camera with a bm can hurt their career in the industry. That's why I believe Jenna Jameson doesn't do it. However, there are some pornstars like BellaDonna who has admitted that she loves fucking bm on camera. But I never heard anyone say that bw having sex with a wm on film will do damage to their careers. Why is that?

And outside of the porn industry, here in the real world, a bm with a ww often gets that red-faced wm stare or that bw eye roll. If only looks could kill! The main reason why IR dating/sex is such an issue right now is because so many bm are doing it. But society can't stop us. The black bull is now free to graze in all pastures. I'm gonna date whomever I choose, regardless of race. I hope all bm do the same.

Peace.

 

Hmmm...it's a generational thing and the racists are dying out - I can see that. I also agree that it is still very prevalent but more hidden since overt racism, white hoods and cross burning, is socially unacceptable.Watching tv in the past couple of years has been interesting, though. IR, especially ww/bm unions are seen in sitcoms/dramas instead of ignored. How would that be explained if there isn't a societal shift?

 

It's hard to disagree with little lainarain, bless her heart, but the racists aren't dying out. They are just morphing. What used to be on the surface is now buried beneath the cloak of religion and politics. Helen Hunt, er lainarain, is right when she says that it's generational, but I believe that racism isn't going anywhere anytime soon. High school and college students are more tolerant of race when they are young, but as they get older and more into politics and religion, they tend to change here in America.

The high school I attended in Macon, Georgia had an even number of black and white students. We got along well and there was some IR dating going on. But when I attended my class reunion, ten years later, so much had changed. The whites were hanging with the other whites and the blacks were with the other blacks. I was so disgusted by it all that I left after we took a big picture together. But at the same time, I see teenagers and college students in Macon that are down with the swirl. I can only hope that they remain as tolerant of other races as they grow older. By the way, there are some hot country girls down there.

If America is so accepting of race these days, why is it always a major issue when things like Katrina happen? And do you remember this fiasco (see the pictures below) from last year?

Peace (the ever-annoying Mosiah)

 

I dont think racism is dying out, it just takes on different forms. I see people using race as a way to politicize a non racial issue like Katrina.

I see racism in many forms, from black women sending racist attack letters to black ball players who date white women, to white muslims murdering black muslims and christians in Darfur, Sudan and southern Sudan.

I see a rise in the northeast USA of Aryan/white supremacist groups I see Heritage groups that are a psuedoIntellectual cover group for white supremacist, I see black muslim groups NOI that are very racist also.

Nah, we might be more accepted in general but racism just morphs into different forms.

 

All true. And terrorism does not help either. As soon as something like Sept 11 happens, there is a "backlash" against a certain people. There was so much hatred for muslims after sept 11, and still is. There are many more examples.

 

MO, I think I liked your posts better when you didn't think I was cute. You were way to nice about saying that this little white girl had on her rose-colored glasses (I do like pink!!!) If I'm being naive, I can handle being told that in a respectful manner. Remember, I promised not to snap at you boys anymore.

But what about tv? I'm looking mostly at dramas/sitcoms. Why are bm/ww IR SO much more prevalent now? However on a side note, we have a local weekend news station that has a bm and bw anchor pair. I have wondered if they did that so that they didn't have a bm/ww combo. They do have bw/wm combos but that doesn't appear as offensive to the general public.

P.S. I didn't go to my 10-year reunion but that would have made for an interesting sociological study. Hmmm....

 

All of these responses speak for themselves in relation to what I was asking. I guess time just changes things, huh?

And, people change when time passes. Not entirely, but still to some degree.

 

Probably.

 

To those who may misunderstand: I was asking what caused todays' society to be MORE ACCEPTING, not accepting altogether of black male/ white female unions.