Interracial Relationships Essay Research Paper Interracial RelationshipsInterracial

Interracial Relationships Essay, Research Paper

Interracial Relationships

Interracial relationships between white and black Americans have been a topic of controversy in the United States since the time of slavery, when slave owners had relations with young, black female slaves. As the years went on, many whites felt themselves to be superior to Africans and African Americans. Whites hated blacks immensely because of their race, color of skin and their culture and treated them as though they were lower in class. Segregation and laws were created to separate blacks from whites. This separation was a social aspect as well as mental. Interracial relationships were frowned upon by others and thought of as a sin. Those who were not interracially mixed believed that the couples that were racially or culturally mixed were a disgrace. Interracial relationships have been criticized for many years, however times are changing and thoughts about miscegenation are now becoming less critical and more reasonable.

In the years that slavery occurred, many laws and rules were set to keep interracial relationships from occurring. As historian Albert Gordon says, In the United States restrictive legislation against miscegenation originated during the period of slavery designed to protect the right of slaveholder of the offspring of slaves. (Intermarriage, Interfaith, Interracial, Interethnic, page 3) This quote means that many whites wanted to make sure that the slaves reproduced more slaves, rather than half slaves. All babies who had one slave parent and one free parent was only considered free if the free parent was the child s mother. Gordon demonstrated that people were afraid about the differences between races or cultures and wanted to protect their slaves. Whites were scared that they would lose their population of slaves if they didn t control who slaves could reproduce with and needed to feel superior to blacks, so whites frowned upon interracial relationships.

Many whites felt that they needed to demonstrate their superiority and many areas created laws to segregate public places, and this caused those in interracial relationships to not feel allowed and that they belonged. Historian Gary Nash demonstrates this segregation when he says Segregation in hotels, restaurants, parks and every facility open to the public Atlanta even required separate Bibles for African Americans and whites to swear upon in court. (American Odyssey, page 282) This segregation caused interracial relationships to be critized because they were now different and causing problems because the races were not thought of as equal. Laws were created to keep the different races separated, and this created conflicts when interracial relationships were seen in public. Jim Crow Laws were enforced which made interracial marriages illegal. If a white person was found in the act of fornication with an African or African American they would have to pay a fine of 500 pounds of tobacco. If one was caught marrying an African or African American then the regular fine was doubled to 1000 pounds of tobacco. The KKK was a group of white males that felt they needed to use physical violence, including lynching, to intimidate African Americans and keep them in their place.

Times are now changing and thoughts are different. As sociologists Paul Almonte and Theresa Desmond point out Today interracial couples have the legal right to marry, and do not experience the harshness that couples felt before in the previous years. (Interracial Marriages, page 12) Now in the new millennium, interracial couples are not being segregated as before. The Thirteenth Amendment in April of 1864 declared the end to slavery and many people do not frown upon them because now they are considered equal. Americans now understand the freedom of choice that one has. It is more common to see an interracial relationship between two people then it was before. Through commonality, interracial relationships are becoming accepted and considered reasonable.

Interracial relationships have caused a commotion and have also led to false assumptions. Differences in race or cultures caused people to have beliefs that suit their satisfaction. They create beliefs that interracial relations cause problems and have less of a chance of working out. As sociologists Almonte and Desmond say Some people felt that interracial couples faced an increased chance of divorce. (Page 44) These assumptions about interracial relationships show that many misunderstand that there is no difference from a regular relationship, both people have to try to be fair, equal and understanding to their partner s needs and feelings. This belief shows the critism that interracial relationships receive because of the minor difference of culture or race. It shows that people have a hard time accepting change and do not want to give interracial relationships the best of luck, but instead create false accusations to make change and difference seem undesirable. Others thought interracial relationships were acts of rebellion towards others. People who do support interracial relationships truly believe that those who were in miscegenation were going against their values and morals. They were using excuses to not face life, but to live in denial and not have to stand up for what is right. As sociologist Kathyln Gay says, Interracial couples, no matter how open, are always not