Interracial Marriages
The United States has witnessed a considerable amount of social and cultural desegregation between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, despite years of desegregation, social and cultural differences still exist. One of these differences that still exists is in the institution of marriage. Americans have been and are continually moving slowly away from segregation. In the past forty years, a multitude of changes have transformed schools, jobs, voting booths, neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants and even the wedding altar, facilitating tolerance for racial diversity (Norman 108). In the 1960's, when housing discrimination was outlawed, many African-Americans moved into mainly Caucasian neighborhoods. The steadily growing areas in the west and southwest are least segregated, because these areas never had the entrenched African-American and Caucasian sections of town (Up For Separatist 30). Even more visible signs of desegregation can be seen in the areas of education. A study done by the University of Michigan shows that integration on campuses occurs on a regular basis. The racial lines are crossed routinely; about 50% of African-Americans and 15% of Caucasians reportedly study together. Ea
It can be seen conclusively, that parents, religion and the attitudes of people, in general, are the main causes to the friction in interracial relationships and marriages. It is difficult, if not impossible, to change the attitude of parents, the older generation, to influence the churches to accepting the patterns of new thought and identity. The older generation will not change because their ideas and thoughts have been ingrained in them. The current generation, who are also guilty of causing friction, and the next generation must be educated to understand and accept these patterns of new thought on interracial marriages. Troubles do not stop here for interracial married couples. The problems that are faced by interracial parents are mirrored in their children. On one occasion, the Bronz family had sent their daughter, Shelly, who looks Caucasian, to a pajama party. Mr. and Mrs. Bronz had never met the family, who are African-American, that put up the pajama party and decided that one of them should go to say hello. Chuck, Shelly's dad, knocked on the door and was met with disbelief. The family was surprised that Shelly's father was an African-American (Kantrowitz 40). Since 1972, surveys have asked whether the respondent would favor a law making inter-racial marriages illegal. In 1980, the results showed that 30.1% of Caucasians and 18.3% of African-Americans favor such a law. By 1994, the collected data showed 14.7% and 3.2% respectively. Similar trends have also been observed in busing and even integrated social clubs. (Up For Separatist 30) A simple analysis shows that on the surface desegregation is moving in the right direction. Races have mixed dating back to the Colonial days. Over time, other races have blended with Caucasians without question. African-American mixing, however, has been accountable for the "one drop" theory, which has defined a way to permanently separate African-Americans. The "one drop" theory was reinforced in the landmark Plessy vs. Ferguson Supreme Court ruling in 1896. The Plaintiff, Homer Plessy, argued that segregation was wrong and he should not be discriminated against because, after all, he was only one-eighth African-American. The justices, however, ruled that he must ride in the "separate but equal" coaches reserved for "colored people." Almost a hundred years later, in 1986, the Supreme C
Some topics in this essay:
African-Americans Caucasians,
God Israel's,
University Michigan,
African-American Caucasian,
Bronz African-American,
Earnest Porterfield's,
African-American Baptist,
African-American Norinen,
Fred Anita,
Halle Berry,
african-americans caucasians,
african-american caucasian,
interracial married couples,
interracial married,
married couples,
interracial marriages,
aunapu 65,
fred anita,
separatist 30,
interracial marriage,
favor law,
desegregation african-americans caucasians,
Join now to see the rest of the essay!
Approximate Word count = 1588
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
More Essays on Interracial Marriages Professional Papers: |
CUSTOMER SERVICES
|
|
Saved Papers
You haven't saved any papers.
|