interracial
Ten things not to say to that cute black man you're dating.
Even though we live in a "post-racial society" (thanks, Oprah!), we're all still pretty much ignorant when it comes to stereotypes.
Before reaching across the color line to make nice, make sure to avoid uttering any of these awkward phrases that'll have the "cool" black guy seeing red.
10. "So what sports do you play?"
We love playing tag. As a matter of fact, you're "it." Go hide while we count to a hundred million. 1... 2 ... 3...
9. "Do you work here?"
No, but the guy over there does. You'll notice he has a name tag and a spiffy uniform that … Read More
Perceptions and stereotypes on love, marriage, & race busted wide open.
What negative perceptions have you heard about black men and women? "I've heard countless 'men ain't no good stories.' One reason I feel black men are scared of commitment is because they never learned how to love a woman. A lot of men and women are raised in broken homes, and these become our examples of what a relationship is."
--MICHAEL, 44, Black, single
"I've heard black women are bitter and disappointed because they've met a brother who's not stepping up. Meanwhile Black men whine about the struggle of the black man and bring the fight back home, … Read More
This mag's for you.
But we're talking truly non-traditional (not, I think I'm going to wear ivory instead of white *gasp* non-traditional). A new magazine, With This Ring, is gearing up to address brides and weddings of the gay, interracial, interfaith, and with-child types. And anyone else who feels a little out of the box when it comes to saying I do.
A testament to equality and commitment, With This Ring is an all-inclusive publication that offers fashion, legal, political, relationship, and workplace coverage. It appears to be in prototype format "not yet on the stand" but with … Read More
Does the fact that we ask the question mean we still have a long way to go?
When I was asked to write an essay about my relationship in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I accepted immediately. I've been in an interracial relationship with my fiancé Fred for two and a half years (and dated a bevy of men from different cultures and races before that), and I was raised by my parents to believe in Martin Luther King Jr's philosophy: All men are created equal. So who better than me to write on this topic? But after staring at a blank document on my computer screen for over 2 hours, I wondered why I … Read More
Why marrying within your race is bigger than black and white.
Is there a crisis in black relationships? Despite millions of examples of loving couples, black women and men still have negative perceptions of each other. As a successful black woman in her 30s, marriage is on my mind. So I set out to find out where these perceptions came from—and if they are true.
Donna L. Franklin's 2001 book, What's Love Got to Do with It?, shows that 7 out of 10 black mothers give negative messages to their daughters about black men. Did my mom give me negative messages about black men? No, she didn't have to. I got them … Read More
