Mimesis

Are interracial relationships wrong? The answer depends on who you ask, and where theyre from. The answer also depends on what era that person was raised in. Since the landmark Loving vs. Virginia Supreme Court decision in 1967, most Americans have been discouraged from romantic endeavors of the interracial kind.

Although books have been written, movies have been made, and success stories abound, interracial relationships are still considered controversial, and to some people, wrong. Most of the Black women Ive talked to admit that they do have a problem with seeing a Black man with a white woman. Some went as far as to say that they cannot

stand Black women(see "Dealing With Hostility", Balance Everything,{August02}) who choose to "color outside the lines". I didn't

get responses as negative from the other Black women I spoke with as I did from this very loud and very opinionated but small group of Black women.

The majority of the Black men I talked to appeared to have a double standard when it comes to interracial relationships. They feel that they should be allowed to have relationships with women of other races without "catching hell" from the Black female population. On the subject of Black women having relationships with men of other races, they sang an entirely different tune. Some of them just gave me a look. Others said that they had a problem with interracial relationships and they shouldn't

be allowed---for black females. I think my friend James represented the entire groups general opinion of these relationships when he said the following: "I dont mind seeing another black guy with a white girl or an hispanic girl, but it bothers me when I see a black girl with a white guy or an hispanic guy. I think, Why couldnt she go out with me or another brother? ".These guys take the word "hypocrisy" to another level. But, I have to say that I wasn't

surprised

at all.

On the other hand, most of the white and hispanic women I talked to had a much more positive view of interracial relationships. Almost all of the white women said that they were either in an interracial relationship or at least considering being in one. There were a few who said it simply wasn't

an option for them because of religious convictions, their families opinion, and their personal preferences. The hispanic women I talked to gave similar responses. But there were a few who could not consider being in one for other reasons, some of which I wont bother to mention in this article because theyre offensive in nature and very biased. One of my classmates told me that while her parents dont discourage her from being in an interracial relationship, they do have a preference for the race of her potential partner. "My parents would rather see us