Anyone want to try to correlate interracial marriage numbers for states to red/blue political leanings? Now THAT would be interesting.

Yes, Will, racism is still alive and well. It's not hard to see it, but your eyes do have to be open.

No, not really. No one who knows what the word "reactionary" means would be surprised by the fact that right-wing reactionaries show affinity for discredited contentions drawn from the past. That penchant is practically the definition, itself.

Will, I agree. When we all become 'brown' (meaning a complete mixture) it can only be a good thing.

And somewhere in Mississippi, some KKK member's head just blew up. :)

So red-blooded Americans are marrying red-blooded Americans? Why is this news?

Kevin C - LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two thoughts. First, I served 17 years ago and in the military it was already a familiar sight to see a mised racial couple and mixed racial children. Perhaps it was because we were all green, in a sense.

Second, I fully expect my daughter to marry outside of her race. I discussed this fact with a student of mine from China and he was very surprised about my attitude - that I didn't care as long as the man was kind to treated her well. Although academics was always the deciding factor, but I always chose schools for my daughter to ensure that she would come into contact with other races and cultures because of my experiences in the military. It was clear to me that flexibility was going to be a key factor in future sucess of children. It was important to get them use to associating with people of different race, ethnicity, religion, etc. Here friends at her school joke that she is their token caucasian. This is the way it is going to be, we had better get use to it.

Two thoughts. First, I served 17 years ago and in the military it was already a familiar sight to see a mised racial couple and mixed racial children.

The military is good for that, not only do they train you to judge people based on merit and ability, but it also puts together lots of different ethnic groups from all over the country.

I only really ever knew a couple black people in my entire life until I joined.

The military is good for that, and so is higher education, especially for kids that live in dorms. I became very good friends with some black kids for the first time in my life that way, and it changed my attitude forever. My state - NC - is one of the top 3 (YAY!), and it has both a strong university system and military bases. Also a lot of Yankee transplants in the Triangle area because of the boom in research facilities. I can't really imagine a lot of mixed race marriages in the more rural areas, though.

Why is it we have African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Libyan-Americans, Iranian-Americans, etc., but if your family came from Europe you are called white or Caucasian (which means from the Caucus Mountains) but not European-American. Now who is being racist?

When we all become "brown" (meaning a complete mixture) it can only be a good thing.

I agree, but then we will have to find another reason to hate each other, like religion.

Oh, wait...

Old habits die hard, NV. That's why a lot of things happen, unfortunately.

NVArt... Get over it. I am English, Irish, French, Dutch, Norwegian, German but I'm really an American. I'm so freaking white, I glow in the dark. Everyone knows that white refers to the dominant racial group in America, moreover, because of of diverse cultural roots which have often been lost over the generations, it's almost impossible to wrap your mouth around all various forms of caucasian-Americans that there are. FYI, my first relatives got her on the freaking Mayflower and my last relatives immigrated here in 1855. We've been here and intermarried so much that what the heck am I supposed to call myself- Engishfredutchnorgerman-American?

I can here the whine now, "Oh, I'm so oppressed. I've been the top dog for 300 years and now people want me to share!! Waahhhh!!"

... Pew survey data showing greater public acceptance of mixed marriage, coming nearly half a century after the Supreme Court in 1967 barred race-based restrictions on marriage. (In 2000, Alabama became the last state to lift its unenforceable ban on interracial marriages.)

Wow...Alabama. I hope I never have to live there.

Differnet, you have expressed my sentiments exactly. The racial/ethnic composition of our country is changing rapidly. We will either accept, adapt and prepare the next generation to be well educated and tolerant, or this country will go down the tubes.

From personal observation, the children of mixed marriages are the most healthy, attractive and intelligent kids of all.

One day in the future, there will be no such thing as the word race. People will be labeled by where they were birthed.

I am a Chicagoian, not a white caucasian mutt.

Would this make more sense to you: Black-Americans, White-Americans, Brown-Americans, and Yellow-Americans? Either way we are just Americans i doubt that if you called white people with european decent European-Americans it would catch on... Quiet frankly that @!$%# doesn't even make sense Europe is a continent, and the reason why Black-Americans are called "African-Americans" is because our ancestry cannot be traced to a specific country in Africa only the continent which is why the most acceptable term would in fact be Black-American.

This "white " person who actually has some asian ancestory way back wonders why we still track these thing since in my family the grandchildren of the first inter-racial marriage have already married and have children. Oh for all you liberals we live in one of those coservative states and we are all religious.

NVArt I think Europeans arrived in large quantities long ago, but at their arrival they were classified in some way or another, I have heared the term Italian-American. For instance, 3th or 4th generations of Cuban-Americans in Tampa, consider themselves Tampanians rather than Cubans, many have melted into Anglo-Saxon, Italian or Greek communities that is hard to tell by their names if they have any Cuban in it.

Also, today there is more distrust and hatred against immigrants, some because they are illegal or others because they are Muslims, therefore they tend to stay safe inside their own communities.

Last, Europeans are very regionalistic and probably wouldn't like to be put together in one term; I know a French is very different than an English or so they think.

Why is it we have African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Libyan-Americans, Iranian-Americans, etc., but if your family came from Europe you are called white or Caucasian (which means from the Caucus Mountains) but not European-American. Now who is being racist?

Not sure what you mean here. Have you never heard the terms "Irish-American," "Italian-American," "Polish-American," etc. ?

Hispanic are by definition caucasian. So to include them in inter-racial couples is a nonsense.

Why is it we have African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Libyan-Americans, Iranian-Americans, etc., but if your family came from Europe you are called white or Caucasian (which means from the Caucus Mountains) but not European-American. Now who is being racist?

As Middle Grounded pointed out, you've proven the exact opposite point from the one you were trying to make. European-Americans are granted primacy in our lexicon, by granting them to respect to label them as per their more specific nationality of origin: "Irish-American," "Italian-American," "Polish-American," etc. White people like use generally fail to acknowledge the differences between a Kenyan-American, a Sudani-American, a Namibian-American, etc.

You can live in Alabama, when I was a child and I am 58, he use to tip around in the hood, now he's bold and out in the hood and don't give a damn who see's him or her for that matter.

the reason why Black-Americans are called "African-Americans" is because our ancestry cannot be traced to a specific country in Africa only the continent

That is one of the tragedies of slavery, that the descendants of slaves can't trace where they came from or who their ancestors are.

NVArt didn't grow up where I did. everybody was german, polish, italian,or whatever /American. In fact with my mixed ancestory my mother asked me how come I called myself Polish since she thought of herself as German add American to both. She was raised by her German/Polish father in a German parish I was raised by her Polish/German mother in a Polish parish.

The military might mix up the races, but they certainly do not mix up comissioned and non-comissioned personnel..........

One day in the future we'll be able to remove caucasian from the census and other places where that information is requested, thank goodness. Everybody looks better with a little color. No one wears that pasty white skin well.

Bullsh*t... I do. :)

In 50 years, America will be Brazil or Mexico, mark my words...with a tiny white elite and a large peasantry of people of color. People of color are all marrying white people (but not each other cross-group interestingly enough), but still not talking about racism. Racism isn't going to change in this country simply through sexual intercourse between white people and non-white people.

because of of diverse cultural roots which have often been lost over the generations, it's almost impossible to wrap your mouth around all various forms of caucasian-Americans that there are.

And I think the same point can be made for Asian-Americans (China, Korea, Vietnam etc.) & Latinos/Hispanics (central America & South America). More recently we're hearing from the black community that they don't relate/like the African-American term.

Not just caucasians.

TekKnowledge, there is an answer to that.... We can do better than Brazil. We can educate ALL our children. My daughter, bless her soul, just finished helping a hispanic friend of her to fill out his college applications. When we talked to him, I told him that he will want better for his children and they should do better by their children. He is the first in his family to go to college and she and I have already told him to look to us for help if he needs it. We are not Brazil... We can choose to do something different. Perhaps, if you care, you could check out your local Boys and Girls Club or other organization and volunteer to do some mentoring with kids of other races. We don't have to have an elite class based upon race.

The saddest thing about both this article and many of the comments here is that in 2012, this is still considered "News", and a forum for racists to rant - Sociologists said 40 years ago that it would be under 200 years before the world was pretty much so inter-mixed, "race" would have little importance, as nearly everyone would be a mix of ethic groups. BTW, I hate the term "Race" - we are all humans, hence one single Race - only outward appearance is different, and a few minor genetic traits caused by evolution due to the areas certain ethnic groups developed in while living there.

We "Whites" are going the way of the Dinosaur, and so what? Look at groups that segregated themselves in the past, like those of the Jewish faith - they have caused themselves to have genetic diseases because of the closed societies they kept themselves in, not marrying outside of them for thousands of years. Same with the European Royals - they only married others of "Noble" blood, and when that group dwindled, the genetic mix also dwindled, causing more genetic diseases to strike them. Better to be color/class blind and ensure the continuation of the human race than end up inbred with all the issues that come of that. If not, one day "Muffy" will look like a depiction of Quasimodo with hemophilia.

"According to the Pew report, 11.9 percent were white-black, and the remainder were other combinations...........The top three states for white-black married couples are Virginia, North Carolina and Kansas, all with rates of about 3 percent."

Is it just me, or does that sound contradictory?

How about this - Marriage is 100% between the same race - The HUMAN race.

I have a so-called 'interracial' marriage (I'm White, my wife is Black) and we have 5 'mixed race' children, and I'm amazed that people make such a big issue of it these days.

We need to get past the idea of 'classifying people by race' if we're going to get past the racial divide in this country. Unfortunately, we have many leaders who foster a racial divide for their own selfish purposes (on all sides) - those are the true 'racists' in my mind.

When MLK famously said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character", I took that to mean that we should be ignoring race when we interact both socially and politically. Unfortunately, it still appears to be a dream.

TekKnowledge, there is an answer to that.... We can do better than Brazil. We can educate ALL our children. My daughter, bless her soul, just finished helping a hispanic friend of her to fill out his college applications. When we talked to him, I told him that he will want better for his children and they should do better by their children. He is the first in his family to go to college and she and I have already told him to look to us for help if he needs it. We are not Brazil... We can choose to do something different. Perhaps, if you care, you could check out your local Boys and Girls Club or other organization and volunteer to do some mentoring with kids of other races. We don't have to have an elite class based upon race.

I have voluteered at several organizations helping kids of color. I'm just being honest, I don't see the race problem ending simply through interracial marriage. Latin America is an accurate case study on what happens when you have wide so-called interracial marriage between the colonialists/slave masters and the slaves. We need to move pass classifying people as "races" at all, because it serves no useful purpose, well other than the purpose of racism.

One day in the future we'll be able to remove caucasian from the census and other places where that information is requested, thank goodness. Everybody looks better with a little color. No one wears that pasty white skin well.

@Kaci....But not the others?? Hum, guess you made your feelings clear about white people. And the racism continues. Did you really need to add the "thank goodness" and "pasty white skin" part. Are you really that shallow and narrow minded? I'll asssume you were attempting to be funny.

When I read all this one thing becomes clear....we really should stop with the race check box on forms and applications. That only validates this idea of "my race vs your race".

Roy and others -- I know that in other instances data can be very powerful and useful. Can it not be the case with race in America? Can it not be helpful to know hwo things are going, for example, for couples who choose to marry across racial lines? As an indicator, I mean?

Because, while I agree it would be ideal to get beyond all this, and that is a worthy goal, the fact is we are NOT beyond it, and knowing where we stand could be helpful as we try to get where we need to go. Otherwise, people can say "Everything is fine," and we have no way to answer them.

Just like everybody said "race as an issue is over in America," when President Obama was elected. Anyone who reads Newsvine can tell you that the level of racial innuendo and animosity right here put the lie to that idea.

I am in favor of good data that allows us to measure our progress.

We need to move pass classifying people as "races" at all, because it serves no useful purpose, well other than the purpose of racism.

@TekKnowledge....right on. You just made my point...only more concise. Well said.

On hyphenated Americans -- It really does depend on where you grow up.

I grew up in a New Jersey town in the 'fifties. All but one family in town were 'white.' (That one family ran the Chinese Laundry.) So the big deal was if you were Polish or Italian or Irish or German. (They didn't bother with the hyphen back then.) The non-defined people were of English descent.

The other way you were defined was by your religion. There were no Jewish people in our town. Catholics were on the bottom rung. Then there were the Protestant churches -- and there were a lot of churches for such a small town. I suspect there may have been a hierarchy for those congregations, too; but I don't know for sure.

One event changed forever the way I learned to see race. I was supervising a group of students in the main building of an outdoor education center in the mid-1970's. A class of students was arriving, and the kids I was with were watching them. They turned to me and asked, concerned, "What is wrong with that class?"

I looked. I couldn't see anything wrong with that group. So I turned to the kids, and I asked back -- "I don't see anything wrong. What do you see?" The kids responded -- "They all look the same!"

Sure enough, while the kids I was with were of European, African, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Hispanic and Native American descent, the arriving group was all 'white.' That looked odd to kids whose experience had always been diversity!

(And those 'kids' now are married -- quite a few in mixed marriages -- and are raising their own children. So the change noted by the article seems completely understandable. And a good thing!)

@Blake, truly awesome Chicagoian to the core baby.

TekKnowledge, rest assured that the other ethnic groups are marrying other ethnic groups. Just in America since the majority ethnic group is of European heritage it is just the law of average popping up.

This isn't really news, those of mix heritage will only increase. It is the only path that the America's can really take. Stay in France too long you'll eventually become French. Stay in America too long and you will eventually be all the American you can be.

NHLucky-661693 "Roy and others -- I know that in other instances data can be very powerful and useful............ As an indicator, I mean?"

An indicator of what, our continued fixation with 'racism'?

Classifying people on the basis of race just perpetuates racist attitudes.

Chief Justice Roberts famously said "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race". The only reason that some people continue to push for racial classifications is to find ways to give preferences (discriminate) on the basis of Race. All that does is continue the racial divide.

The notion that marriage is between two people of the same race comes directly from the bible (the most popular fairy tale of all). Yet another reason why religion is a poison to the world

I'm no Harry Chrishner by ANY means, but show me where in the bible where it says you can never marry someone of a different race. I'll wait here. Until then, that statement is like all of the others you posted, utter krap.

So red-blooded Americans are marrying red-blooded Americans? Why is this news?

I know! People now marry later in life, and for love and compatibility; rather than just money and race similarity. What a concept, eh??

@Roy Wilson....nice to hear some REASON on here.

Sometimes racism is portrayed as a white vs. everyone else issue. This is simply not true. There are racists of ALL COLORS and RELIGION including white people. Until EVERYONE buys in to the removal of the racist bias via applications for school, loans, census, etc. We will NEVER get there.

Therefore I ask my friends of all colors...are we ready to remove those check boxes? Or do we still enjoy the benefits it brings such as quotas, etc..

but show me where in the bible where it says you can never marry someone of a different race.

@Hotticket....agreed. When people quote the bible, it just never comes off well. Another form of racism...."my religion is better then yours".

Kaci-1919926 "One day in the future we'll be able to remove caucasian from the census and other places where that information is requested, thank goodness. Everybody looks better with a little color. No one wears that pasty white skin well."

Sadly, you probably don't even realize what a 'Racist' comment that is.

Roy, I just believe that you can't really attack a problem if you have no information. And I simply don't believe our problems to do with race are over. The color-blind society is still beyond us, much as we might like to think otherwise. So, we need information, that's all. And I think we need to confront the issues with the information gathered.

I think it is disengenuous to say that if we stop studying the issue, it will go away. Ignoring an issue doesn't make it go away, even if Mr. Justice Roberts says so.

The notion that marriage is between two people of the same race comes directly from the bible (the most popular fairy tale of all). Yet another reason why religion is a poison to the world

I know that Bob Martinez is talking a lot of crap when he says something like this. It is found NO WHERE in the bible. What's suprising is that 23 people actually agreed with him.

"Race" is a social construct. There is only one human race, with various ethnic origins. Do the Family Tree Dna testing, I did thinking maybe we'd have Native American lineage since my family was here as early as about 1690. It did not show, but you find the most interesting genetic matches. Some people you match are very helpful and will point you in the right direction with genealogy. It was not a total surprise, but come to find out, due to (paternal) Grandma's ancestors, we are about 12% "Middle Eastern" - Jewish roots to Northern Africa. But if anyone asks my ethnicity, I say "Scot-German", as "white" is too boring. Grandma's ethnic background is still more than Jewish, and I look forward to having the time to solve the mystery - wish I had the money to hire it done professionally.
My family, and my extended family, is everyone - Asian from Japan and India, African American. But Hispanic - that's on the back burner with a cousin, they will likely marry after college. That would round out the world representation. We enjoy it! Most of us are of a higher education level, that may have something to do with this - we look at the person. My kids could marry anyone with a college degree.

We can thank Michelle Obama for this trend. After all she is a famous black public figure who is married to a white guy.

Unhappy, you are right. In fact, the bible was used as an excuse for polygamy and even denying the right to interracial marriage.

I am curious. Has the divorce rate increased in marriages between races?

NHLucky-661693 "Roy, I just believe that you can't really attack a problem if you have no information. And I simply don't believe our problems to do with race are over."

They will never be over as long as it's used as a means of dividing us. Can you give me one valid reason for classifying people on the basis of Race that does not cause some resentment?

Why is it we have African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Libyan-Americans, Iranian-Americans, etc., but if your family came from Europe you are called white or Caucasian (which means from the Caucus Mountains) but not European-American. Now who is being racist?

NVArt - I agree. I am half Italian and I always check "Other" in those boxes. Every other place on the Mediterranean gets a box (Hispanic, African) why not me? If the people asking for this info are too dumb to see this, it's there own fault. My family is NOT from the Caucases...so I'll continue until this dumb question goes away.

"According to the Pew report, 11.9 percent were white-black, and the remainder were other combinations...........The top three states for white-black married couples are Virginia, North Carolina and Kansas, all with rates of about 3 percent."

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. Benjamin Disraeli British politician (1804 - 1881).

I only quote this to comment on the stupidity of this study in the first place. People who are decent could care less about this. Like others on this board, I have served 24 years in the Army. I could care less about your ethnicity unless you speak a foreign language I would need interpreted. Green is green. My only prejudice is towards the Air Force. They're a bunch of softies (hehe)

This so-called "news" merely helps to perpetuate the ignorance that race is somehow important. Personal pride is OK, until it becomes an obstacle.

I hate it when people say black -_-.

No one has the absence of color when they are "black". Therefore the term African-American. I come from an inter-racial marriage. They have been married for 21 years and together for 25 years. My sisters and I are smart and we have had the privilege of being raised properly. We never needed anything growing up my mom was a hard worker and our father loved us.

Also, Kaci....do you realize how truly ignorant you sound right now? Why dont you just turn of your computer and spew your racism else-where.

P.S. I wasn't pulling the racist card and woe is me crap from the above comment about my hatred for the word black. It just isnt the proper word. People do not have the absence of color. That's all.

RedVirginia: ..."religious atheists who live through an embittered life worrying about the beliefs of the others"...

Google the phrase, Self-Reflective Projection, and there you will find a picture of RedVirginia.

I think you should revisit this post, RV, time and time again. Especially when discussions about Muslims and Xmas come around. You'll get a chuckle at how absurd you sounded.

We all are.

Have a nice day :)

NVArt - The term Caucasian was coined by a European person, Johann Friedrich, a German anthropologist. This is is reasoning:

"Caucasian variety - I have taken the name of this variety from Mount Caucasus, both because its neighborhood, and especially its southern slope, produces the most beautiful race of men, I mean the Georgian; and because all physiological reasons converge to this, that in that region, if anywhere, it seems we ought with the greatest probability to place the autochthones (birth place) of mankind"

It's actually a complement that other humans even refer to Europeans and Eurpoean-Americans as Caucasian because as you can see, it was coined out of vanity and was also VERY VERY Inaccurate.

What I find interesting about interracial marriage is you don't see many black females marry outside of their race. Black men do at a much higher rate than the women.

Arianna Teasley

Whats wrong with black? Whites are called white, not European Americans.

Cassandra, who knew?" "Race" is a social construct. There is only one human race, with various ethnic origins. Do the Family Tree Dna testing..."

Great point. We are all a mixture of racial and ethnic groups, despite our outward appearances so the few arbitrary classifications we use do not reflect reality.

I don't like the term "black" really, nor "white" - just a catch-all phrases to pigeon hole people, takes away from the history of the person. Statistics are good for the purposes of measuring, for historical purposes, but people should be able to check as many "boxes" as they'd like, to describe themselves ethnically.

If you ever go to You tube, some videos are there by average people (or sometimes guys dressed in drag making fun of their foreign moms) about "sh!t mixed" people say - that are kind of funny. Some more than others.

Cassandra, who knew?

I would say searching your soul for a purpose is completely different than how we appear. It's a fact we are black and we are white. It doesn't show a lack of culture or ethnicity.

I think this article about interracial marriage pretty much sums that up. The ethnicity really doesn't matter.

Here's a 'revelation' to some people - The color of your skin is determined by the amount of 'Melatonin' pigmentation in your skin. If your ancestors came from an area near the Equator, your skin color tends to be darker, and if your ancestors came from Norther climates, your skin color tends to be lighter. The most likely explanation is that darker skin blocks the body from absorbing too much Vitamin D from high sun exposure, which can be toxic, while light skin absorbs more essential Vitamin D from less sun available in Northern climes.

The 'fixation' on skin color is much ado about nothing.

Differnet I dont know who says white is the dominant race. Maybe 30 yrs ago this was true, but know white is the minority and affirmative action continues to hurt whites. Affirmative action needs to be done away with and an applicate is hired based soley on his abilities.

Yea, right and pigs fly too.

Years ago, I told my daughters it was ok to marry whomever they want to...unless he was a liberal.

Roy, no matter how much you don't like it, we already classify automatically, we are acculturated to do so. I don't think many people would claim that they look at person and don't notice what they look like, and even make certain assumptions based on that. I know you don't like it, but it's true.

While some resentment may come from being asked to identify one's race or gender, lots more resentment comes from the issues still facing us in our society. Eliminating the collection of data doesn't eliminate resentment, in my opinion, as long as the issues persist in education, employment, housing, you name it.

Ignoring it will not make it go away.

Differences need not divide us -- that is the real issue in my opinion, not pretending we are not different, because we are. Not biologically, but culturally as a result of our past. I don't think we should try to erase differences, we just need to accept them. To say we are all members of one race, the human race is a nice sentiment but we are not there yet in terms of actual practice.

It will be a long, concerted effort to reach the stage of enlightenment we both wish for. How do we get there? By identifying the issues and dealing with them. You can't really do that if you don't even know what you are dealing with.

Ah, as long as we don't let those pesky Gays get married.......... (sarcasm)

Spider, What if SHE were a liberal?

Roy, the data keeps indicating we still have a problem with racism. Until we don't, we need the data to tell us so and whether or not we are making progress on "it". Ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away.

I do agree that too many people read the data incorrectly and jump to "racism" when many other cultural and/or environmental factors could be at work, but that still doesn't mean kill the data.

Refuting post 1.6 by Bob Martinez ~

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." ~ Galatians 3:26-28

"The verse uses the word "all". The word in Greek means "all". How many is "all"? All who have recognized Jesus Christ as Lord may enjoy this equality in their congregation. Those Christians who are acting contrary to this verse are in disobedience and must repent. Jesus came to save all mankind. As far as He is concerned the only race there is would be the Human race, to include all ethnic groups. Look at where all the these groups came from: the family of Noah.

When we look back at the second marriage of Moses we find the Lord being quiet about that union. Moses married an Ethiopian. Nowhere does the Lord admonish Moses for that. Boaz, a Jew, marries the gentile Ruth. The genealogy of Christ contains members of various ethnic groups."

I apologize for the length of this post but it does speak to this issue, and especiallly to those who embrace Mr. Martinez's post ~ his views are actually contradictory to the teachings of the Bible.

Of course the Teapublicans will blame Obama .... or not give him credit ... whichever is more negative ............. just like all the other issues

@moonbaseGOP, you just showed that you lack the ability to even contribute to said topic. Oh wait, you were by being RACIST/BIASED...now I get it.

I love how people from both sides of politics have attempted to share in this discussion by way of throwing those of different political opinions under the bus.

"Race is a social construct; race isn't real."

Exactly.

If you were to walk leisurely around the world, instead of flitting from one ethnic neighborhood to another, or traveling by ship and starting in England and stopping for fresh water in sub-Saharan Africa on your way to China, you would NOT divide the world into four or five 'races'. Too many people just don't fit neatly into the stereotypical 'phenotypes'.

That does NOT mean that people aren't pigeon-holed, usually as a means to keep special privileges as an inheritable monopoly held in perpetuity one group of people and denied to others. This is why it's necessary to track such things as ethnicity on census forms and such along other demographic data.

Nost people do NOT see prejudice (or racism). It is nearly impossible for us to see our OWN prejudices. Most of the time, we simply do not NOTICE prejudice directed against groups of people we do not personally identify with.

As to why Americans of strictly European descent are described as 'white' while everyone else is described as something else, part of that is a deliberate effort to indoctrinate 'white' people to exclude and feel apart from Asians, Latins, and African Americans. The Census form I filled out this year had very few categories, and for the first time, Latinos were prohibited from being counted as both 'Hispanic' (a word invented by the US Census Bureau) AND 'white' or Caucasian, because the cateogories were winnied down to "Hispanic (of any race)", "Non-Hispanic White", and a few other categories such as "Asian" (no difference between Chinese, Arabs, Indians, Philipinos, etc.), and "Black, African-American, or Negro". This because the 'race' categories were selected not by demograohers, but by Republican political strategists. And nobody at Census Bureau knows whether the term "Negro" was included for the sake of Spanish speaking blacks, really old blacks (those who might be inspired by titles such as "United Negro College Fund"), or simply to irritate people.

As to Bob M's silly comment about the Bible, the Apostle Paul taught us that in Christ we are neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. Jesus spent a lot of time trying to bring home the message that ALL people are our neighbors, and are to be loved the same way we love ourselves. The only injunction against intermarriage of any kind came at the end of the Babylonian captivity, when Ezra oddly advised Hebrew men to divorce their foreign wives and take Hebrew wives instead. (Note that Jesus spoke out strongly against divorce and remarriage.)

"Will, I agree. When we all become 'brown' (meaning a complete mixture) it can only be a good thing."

Now hold up. I thought America was supposed to be great because of its diversity. You are saying that it's a good thing if that diversity were to vanish? It seems to me that you are advocating a single "mongrel" race as an ideal, to the denigration of those of us who have distinct heritages. That sounds pretty racist to me.

Stories like this are the milieu of MSNBC- the biggest race baiters and sensationalists since the Hearst Org. Really, why should any of this matter and to whom? But MSNBC doesn't stay neutral on the topic. They go out of their way to inflame those who identify with a white heritage by saying things like 'this is progress, but this isn't enough. America still has a long way to go.'

OK, is that a racist statement? Don't think so? Let's reverse it. Let's just say they had a story that said blacks were being bred out of existence. Less white were marrying them and they were simply becoming a smaller population group. Then let's say the article injected that statement, 'this is progress, but this isn't enough. America still has a long way to go.'

Or replace that with Jews (who typically don't mix outside their religion. Interracial is fine but you sure as heck can't be anything but a Jew). What if we said Jew's, as a group, were marrying outside their faith and the Jewish religion was disappearing. And that this is progress but, "America still has a long way to go."

Go to where? Where is it we're going? And can't anyone else see why such language is inflammatory? It is meant to marginalize people and threaten them with the idea of extinction. Call that peachy-keen if you like, I think it's vulgar.

The problem with 'race' as an identifier, which it obviously is and wayyyyy too much by EVERYONE (i.e. "I'm black american, I'm hispanic american, I'm asian american" self-idenity by race, race, race!), is that it doesn't say much about a person aside from their skin color and culture. The first part is no big deal. I don't think people, even people who claim to be staunch racists, honestly care about skin color. The problem is the second part: culture. Should we encourage a 'blending' of cultures? We sure don't during Black history month. Blacks never share their achievements during black history month, even if they're claiming the achievements of other individuals they never knew. What if Watson and Crick did this? They're the guys who proved the idea of double-helical DNA. What if Watson said, 'you're British. DNA is an AMERICAN discovery!" and vice versa?

So media encourages 'diversity' except for when pandering to special groups, then those groups are unique and special. It's absurd and childish. But take part all you like.

As for me and my personal concerns, I just want to see the a$$hole factor in a person. If their a huge a$$hole, I don't want to mingle with them. If they're not an a$$hole, I have no problem mingling. Same with 'interracial' marriage. as long as my daughter isn't marrying some a$$hole, or some a$$hole who feels some need to shove their culture down everyone's throats and call it 'diversity', I'm fine.

Bobby Jones, this may come as a surprise to you, but not all "white people" are of European Descent.

This may surprise you, we all came from Africa and the Middle East.

I don't think people, even people who claim to be staunch racists, honestly care about skin color. The problem is the second part: culture.

@MovingOut. A well thought out point that actually made great sense. This is no easy task when considering the complexity of racism.

I hope EVERYONE takes the minute to read your post. Bravo!!

This is great news, proves that the idea and perception of marriage can and does change with time. People and culture evolves. Gives hope to many out there who are waiting for a chance to marry the person they love!

@Simple one 3212578. The white people don't need to much help in any department. The government, laws, jobs,politics and society in general is set up for the benefit of the white man. So, how is affirmative action hurting you? Affirmative Action was created to at least give people of other races a chance at jobs the whites were deliberately barring them from. Honestly, it still goes on even with affirmative action. Yes, in an ideal world it would be great for everyone to obtain a job based on their abilities but in real life America is not ready to do away with affirmative action. If they did we would be set back 30-40 years with white people dominating employment and blocking others from the same opportunities.

As far as this article is concerned, I think you should be able to date who you want. But I am a realist and the truth is I don't want my children or grandchildren subjected to the cruelness and hatred of society because they have interracially dated. four greats back my grandmother a cherokee indian named America and my great x4 grandfather a white man henry wed down the line 4 generations later we are black. The point is we are all mixed up and the fact that this article was written let's me know we have a lot further to go. Honestly, it shouldn't even be a conversation. Love you all no matter what race good bye :)

Diversity doesn't vanish when people become triple (or greater) hyphenates. The strength of diversity is effectively assured when diversity is present within individuals.

Well, Bob Martinez, I have some news for you. My parents are in fact one of the inter-racial marriages out there. My mom is mexican and my dad is white. And guess what: they are both Christian. Seeing as how the Bible does NOT state anything along the lines of classifying marriage as two people of the same race, I'd say you need to study up on what the Bible does say before you use it to spew your religious hatred.

I am always surprised to read things like this, I guess because it was always normal for me growing up, being a "mixed breed." I have never given much thought to how others view the importance or the differences in racial mixing since it has always been acceptable to everyone around me. I have been IN the mix, and not sitting on the outside looking in. To me it's so natural and normal that I forget about the variety of racism that does still exist. This article was a reminder of the obstacles we are all slowly overcoming, and while sad that it is even still an issue, it's a beautiful thing to see the progress being made and the acceptance that is growing wider and more prominant in our culture.

NHLucky-661693 and LMarcT

No matter how you try to 'spin' it, what you really want is 'preference based on Race', and I think that is not the solution to the problem. The real differences today in socioeconomic status are the result of differences in educational attainment. A good example is the fact that Asians tend to be better educated than Whites, and, as might be predicted if educational attainment is the primary determinant, they also enjoy the highest socioeconomic status.

If you REALLY look at the average income figures from this perspective, you will find that this criteria explains virtually all of the socioeconomic differences. If you really want to 'level the playing field', then focus on closing the education gap, which has a variety of facets. Giving preferences based on Race is morally wrong, and socially divisive, and certainly violates the principle in MLK's 'Dream Speech', to wit ""I have a dream that my four little children will one day be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"

I think the word diversity is most often used in the wrong manner when comparing race. Each race has it's own diversity within itself. What is missing most of the time is acceptance of all our differences regardless of race.

Bobby Jones, this may surprise you, but we not only came from Africa and the Middle East, but also from the Native Americans that were already here.

"Native Americans" are believed to come form Asia when there was a land bridge between what is now Russia and North America. Which originally came from Africa and the Middle East.

In the end, we all started out African.

Excellent!

Arguing over a 0.0001% difference in DNA is stupid.

been there, done that.

We can thank Michelle Obama for this trend. After all she is a famous black public figure who is married to a white guy.

Funny @!$%#.

I'm Asian by marriage.

Marrying outside your own create many problem down the road, and after is done there is no way back but to accept your new life, but that still does not make it righ. why fight something you don't have to. when you marry your own everything fall into the right places without any problems making your life a lot smoother.

I will say, stop alcoholism and drugs, and find a real goal for your life, work hard, and you will find-out that thing will fall at the places you ever wanted, and stop looking for the easy way-out that has no commonsense, the easy way-out without thinking of consequences always has an ugly price at the end.

Marrying outside your own create many problem down the road, and after is done there is no way back but to accept your new life, but that still does not make it righ. why fight something you don't have to. when you marry your own everything fall into the right places without any problems making your life a lot smoother.

I will say, stop alcoholism and drugs, and find a real goal for your life, work hard, and you will find-out that thing will fall at the places you ever wanted, and stop looking for the easy way-out that has no commonsense, the easy way-out without thinking of consequences always has an ugly price at the end.

sss

All of you missed the point and especially you differnet. There is nothing to get over. I was mearly pointing out that it seems a little PC and a little reverse racist. When I was growing up African-Americans were called Negros, then they said they prefered the term "Blacks" and now it has to be "African-American". But whites have always been called "whites". My point is after your family has been in the country for 2 generations you should no longer refer to yourself as a hyphenated anything. You should refer to yourself as "American" and only that. Most of the people that refer to themselves as a "Whatever-American" have never even been to the country of "Whatever". It seems like they are more interested in setting themselves apart than being part.

So when did diversity become our greatest strength? America is in a pretty serious decline right now and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, despite all of our increased diversity. And which country is poised to take our place as the next global power? China? Not exactly a diverse country.

Just being me.."Marrying outside your own create many problem down the road, and after is done there is no way back but to accept your new life,"

That's why we should not marry birds, or fish for that matter.

lol

I don't understand why this is such a big deal. Interracial marriages are common around here. (North Texas) and have been for YEARS! They were common when I was in the Air Force (I joined it in 1972..)

However this article does highlight the fact that race relations are improved...not perfect mind you. "They never will be "prefect" as that seems to go against human nature.

But most people realize you can not help loving who you love. If that other person treats you right, the way you wish to be treated and you do the same for them then everyone else should just butt out. Having a good solid relationship is hard enough work to maintain without the added stress of "your family hates me becasue I am....Name that race".

So when did diversity become our greatest strength?

It started in the mid 1830s, and reached its long-standing level in the early 1900s.

America is in a pretty serious decline right now

No it's not.

The Great Recession caused a short-term dip, and even then only with regard to economic considerations (and anyone who consider money the only important thing in life has their own issues to deal with). Recovery has started, and is ongoing.

Globalization has limited America's ability to exploit the resources (including human resources) of other nations with impunity, but that doesn't imply decline - it just implies limitation on unjust exploitation, something which, while it enriched America, didn't actually strengthen it.

Globalization, and their own diligence in learning from the leader, has also enabled other nations to rise. I suppose you can deceive yourself into thinking someone else's advancement must mean you have declined, but that misjudgment stems from looking behind you instead of looking at where you're going.

Perhaps the biggest risk to America is the polarization that is being fostered and exploited by the right-wing, but I suppose that folks who are claiming that America is in decline are blinded by perspectives that would force them to also deny that that polarization they are fostering is damaging.

and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, despite all of our increased diversity.

This exhibits another fallacy. Even if America was in decline (which, again, it isn't), the decline would be attributable to that which causes it (the spike in the exploitation of the working poor by the rich and powerful, for example). Diversity would, in that context, be reducing the rate of the decline caused by the actual maladies.

And which country is poised to take our place as the next global power?

A lot of this would depend on whether you're myopically looking at money as the sole determining factor. I suppose someone blinded by avarice would see either China or India as possible candidates, since they both exhibit a very strong tendency within their people toward self-sacrifice for the good of the machine (conceptually speaking). Everyone knows you can temporarily spike your financial fortunes by abusing your resources, but in the end there's a price to pay for that. There are signs that China and India are beginning to realize this so their financial ascendancy will eventually be stunted by their emerging wisdom and insight.

So in the end the United States is very likely to remain the global power. Our diversity and the inertia stemming from our progressive history will eventually provide the strength to overcome the reactionary and exploitative forces that are currently working against further progress for our nation.

I agree. Tell it to the "christian" conservatives.

Sam I must run in different circles than you as I haven't hear anyone Conservative or liberal,black or white speaking out about interracial being an issue in 30 years?Just saying.

wow except on newsvine today. If people would just mind their own damn business it would be a much better world imho.

@ Sam Adams...and this comment makes you different from racists? Youre a bigger hypocrite than christians are!

Yeah, I can't wait until we all look alike; who wants to look at those ugly girls with the long blonde hair, blue eyes and lily white skin anyway? We're making real progress now; just as we are in everything else.

Yeah, I can't wait until we all look alike; who wants to look at those ugly girls with the long blonde hair, blue eyes and lily white skin anyway?

My coworker is mixed race and she is drop dead gorgeous, and has one of the most amazing bodies I have ever seen.

RichWizl2 yes i remember reading something similar in? Oh yes mein kampf something about racial purity?

Shuklack I have five interracial children all very attractive and most importantly they are all good loving individuals. I would not advise anyone to get into or not get into an interracial relationship,whatever you are attracted to is your own business and no one else. Really why does anyone care what others are attracted to?

last time i checked there was only one race on the planet, the human race.

Balance Da Budget,

Yes, someone does care. How long before the extreme racial elements come forward and decry the dilution of their races and the crumbling of historic racial institutions? Not long, it has happened already. Those who love to stir the pot will scream about losing their identities when what they mean is they have suffered a loss of income. This reveals their true agenda all along down thru the years; keep up the strife and the money will flow.

Race is unimportant. The cultural challenges are what people must overcome.

I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and scary pale skin. My hubby's about as dark as you can get unless you've come straight from africa. Our kids are absolutely gorgeous- big brown eyes, curly brown hair, and a beautiful dark tan skin tone. There's no comparison to what I looked like as a kid, and I'm sure they'll still beat me in looks as adults.

RwEvans says it all:

"last time i checked there was only one race on the planet, the human race."

Why are people discriminating agains LOVE. It comes in all shapes, sizes & colors. Isn't there something better to talk about besides this?

Murphy, no one said you had to do anything. Just leave everyone else alone. You are a sad individual.

You're joking, right Murphy?

I have a friend in Texas who is embarrassed by her parent's overt racism. Don't give your kids another reason to be embarrassed by you.

Murphy- It's just another thing YOU people will be on the wrong side of history of. I don't see liberals accepting everything. I think the main difference between liberals and conservatives is that conservatives have their mind made up and don't change it, while liberals think on the fly and try to evolve with society. It's a big world with lots of people, yesterday's solutions are not tomorrows.

And no we aren't "devolving", over time conservative thought has been on the wrong side of history... And I haven't seen anything to make me think this trend will change.

MURPHY-568551

inmissouri - you only want your kids due to the aesthetic pleasure/purpose so they possibly looking good. That's the only reason why you, a white woman, had babies by a black man. Damn mudsharks. You make me sick you negro lover!

ram-762581 - u must b a liberal! go to hell

You show every bit of the education and intelligence we liberals have come to expect from conservatives.

Murphy- aka troll- I'll go ahead and give you one response. I married my hubby because I love him, and I knew he'd make a good husband and father. I had kids with him because we want to have a family. I just wanted to point out that being blonde/blue eyed is in no way superior in appearance than those with more pigment.

Good for you, Balence da budget I have 55 cousins of what people who must classify would call inter-racial. I'm the token white in my family and in the area in which I live. Nobody around here seems to think it means anything.

Let's put MURPHY-568551 and sam adams in a room and force them to reproduce!

Everything is NOT a Conservative vs. Liberal issue.

We are ONE race (The Human Race) and ONE country (The UNITED States of America). No political party has ALL the answers. No political party is always correct or always wrong.

I will now jump off my soapbox.

I agree. Tell it to the "christian" conservatives.

And the racist wheel goes round and round. Sam Adams....you just showed your true colors....no pun intended. I know you probably didn't mean to but come on. BY implying that a particular religion is "the problem"...IS THE PROBLEM.

@ Sam - there is nothing Christian about Conservatives.

@ Sam - there is nothing Christian about Conservatives.

The Christian Right is neither.

Just keep in mind. Humans evolve to suit our environment and while dark skin may not be a social and economic advantage in our world because of lingering racism, it is an evolutionary advantage.

A good amount of melanin is a gift to give your offsrping with the rapidly increasing UVA and UVB rays out there.

I often feel sorry for my white friends who have to slather on 100 SPF sunscreen in the height of summer and have to be freaking out over every new mole they see on their skin.

And its only going to get hotter and more exposed from here on out. So, to preserve the human race, let's mix it up some more!

Coming to a banned list near you soon!

MURPHY-568551

NICE attitude you got working there! (sarc)

@ Sam - there is nothing Christian about Conservatives.

@No Party affiliation. Is your "handle" meant to be a front for your own racist agenda?

Nothing like someone on a racist topic thread making RACIST comments. The irony runs deep.

I can see that we have a number of people on here that have not studied DNA.

It is hard to believe that a news outlet is writing about something stupid like this in 2012,it makes about as much sense as writing about the sun rising and setting each day.

Sam Adams, I am a white Christian conservative married to a Black Christian Conservative. I am so tired of people ranting that all conservatives are racist. Racism has no Politics. It's who you are as a person. That you bring the topic up shows how racist you truly are.

@Janine. Well said and I agree!

What's even scarier are all the "like" clicks Sam Adams and No Party Affiliation have to their posts. Proof that RACISM is justified when you add some political spin to it.

Yikes, MURPHY-568551. This is a terrible comment. Banned.

Wow that didn't take long. Sally - you are on top of your game...evil do'ers and CoH violators have no chance.

Sally

Forgive me, but when you repeat it, it actually perpetuates his hatred.

I believe the point is that (1) the offensive message itself is gone and (2) it serves as a bulletin to haters that that kind of rhetoric is inappropriate. Otherwise, some people wouldn't realize that they embody hatred until they are banned, and would have no opportunity to consider their thoughts and behaviors before they commit a critical transgression.

But that's just my guess.

Murphy-568551 That was beyond a teribble comment. My question would be, why are you so bitter against blacks? What reason do you have to be? I don't know what your race is but Im guessing white. "How dare the house slaves get freedom and opportunity". (sarcasm) Really what are you so angry about. As a woman of color it floors me to see people so angry simply off of race. That comment just spews ingorance in mass quantity. I will pray for you because honeslty, you need it. I have read a lot of sideways comments on here but you my friend win...hands down you are an idiot!!!!!

I must say, Im pretty proud of the Americans in this discussion. Though you always have a few bone heads but in general most of those who spoke embodied what I would call the expression of unity, love and freeness to make ones own decision. Away of thinking that is far from racism by all means and that is soon to foster the love needed to erase the constraints of racism in this world.

There is no such thing as racism,but there is ignorance.

I think religion is only a factor in prejudiced insofar as some religions rely on fear and ignorance, and fear and ignorance are what fuel prejudice.

trice315 #2.16....

You know that feeling you have concerning Murphy's totally incomprehensible and hate-filled comment? That's what I feel when I hear the filth spewing forth from the mouth of King Shezbat of the NBPP. Just don't get that kind of hated no matter who is spouting it.

The white people don't need to much help in any department. The government, laws, jobs,politics and society in general is set up for the benefit of the white man. So, how is affirmative action hurting you?

I don't know what your race is but Im guessing white. "How dare the house slaves get freedom and opportunity". (sarcasm)

@Trice315.

Your feelings (above quotes) are your feelings and I'll try not to take away from that. But know this; your disdain towards white people is ADDING to the problem. Maybe you could be more careful with your words. Try not to generalize racism has a white people only problem.

I'm white and actually trying to understand your view point here. But in my short time on this planet I've heard very racist statements from the mouths of Asians, Latinos, Muslims, Blacks (ie Black Panthers & King Shabazz) and Whites.

Racism is color blind. Drop your attitude towards white people and you just might be surprised. And at a minimum you won't be adding fuel to the racist fire.

BTW....Murphy's an idiot. Hence their comments have been deleted.

I have begun to call my race 'polka-dotted' due to sun damage and old age.

I think they are already doing this - with tatoos!

I think that is what the military has done.

I've been married 3 times now and they were all green and some other color, but all green and most had the same first name ( PVT, SPC, CPL, SGT, ECT)

No, I think we should make it interesting. Turn all the men red and all the women blue and see if the children come out some shade of violet.

This is the year 2012. Why is this interesting to anyone? We are all God's children!

Just wait. If people can get plastic surgery to alter their faces and bodies. I am sure the future holds the ability to temporarily, or even permanently change your skin tone. Of course you will never be able to change your race, but 50 years from now who knows what will happen. You can become blue and gold to support your favorite sports team, or camouflage to match your military inspired outfit. LOL. Just you wait.

Reasoning,

Hillary Jordan has a book called "When She Woke." It is a futuristic tale about a society that tints people as punishment for crimes. The lead character's skin is tinted red because she had an abortion. Other "crimes" result in other skin colors.

The thing about skin color is that it is so readily obvious.

Reasoningoverfear-
Have you ever heard of the book "Black Like Me"?
A man in the early 1960's did just that.
That book will open some eyes, believe me.

Yes, that was a good book.

It started me reading black literature. Some incredible work out there.

Yeah, I got called out once for pointing out that the only difference was that my ancestors walked from the nice warm African latitudes into the colder more inhospitable European climes. Thus evolving lighter skin to absorbe more vitamin D. I was told I didn't know what I was talking about and that I was an idiot. That was only a couple of months ago!

Culheath, I have no problem at all with interracial marriage, but must ask: when you say that race is a social "construct" , you make this sound invalid. Nearly everything pertaining to civilization is a construct. You also say that the intermingling of cultures and races is beneficial, except for bigots who profit from conflicts. This is nonsense. Certainly, cultural exchanges have been beneficial throughout history, but the same can be said for the opposite.

I find it incredibly odd that people who champion "diversity" (not speaking of you here) are often the first ones to promote homogenization. For them, cultural and racial diversity are "barriers" to world peace or whatever. All differences must be negated, minimized, or blended. Yet let westerners encroach on the habitat of an Amazon Indian tribe, exposing them to western or modern ways, and the same people will complain about THAT and a loss of cultural integrity and tradition.

My parents are Dutch and German. I love my cultural inheritance and believe that myriads of cultures and races give beauty and enrichment to our global community. Those who would blur differences have a perfect right to do so, but I pray that this never becomes the norm.

The failure to acknowledge the blending of cultures as a valuable culture, itself, demonstrates a lack of vision and perspective.

Always my point too Culheath when people start talking race is that ultimately we are all African. Established scientific fact. Race doesn't even have a scientific basis. If you used certain blood alleles as a criteria for race, many southern Europeans are more closely related to northern Africans than they are to northern Europeans.

Culture is a different matter. Taking the ways of other cultures that are desirable and/or beneficial and integrating them in to another culture is good, but many cultures ways, like the corruption in Greece and Mexico for instance, are not parts of those cultures that need to be integrated.

Race and culture are not the same thing. China and Japan are the same recognized race but vastly different cultures. Even looking at France and Germany one sees different cultures.

Do not confuse race, culture, and nationality. The blending of races will only remove one of our issues but it is the biggest and nastiest.

Nikolaus20
I believe when he terms 'race' as a social construct he means that there is no basis in biology. I don't know how old you are but at one time the thought was that blacks were somehow 'sub-human'. Of course we now know that under the skin we are all alike biologically.

Nikolaus20,

You make some interesting points and I agree with your "viva la difference" sentiments in terms of being prideful of your heritages.

Culheath, I have no problem at all with interracial marriage, but must ask: when you say that race is a social "construct" , you make this sound invalid. Nearly everything pertaining to civilization is a construct.

What I meant by social constructs was to indicate that biologists no longer consider "race" a valid scientific categorical term :

While biologists sometimes use the concept of race to make distinctions among fuzzy sets of traits, others in the scientific community suggest that the idea of race is often used in a naive or simplistic way. Among humans, race has no taxonomic significance; all living humans belong to the same hominid subspecies, Homo sapiens sapiens. Social conceptions and groupings of races vary over time, involving folk taxonomies that define essential types of individuals based on perceived traits. Scientists consider biological essentialism obsolete, and generally discourage racial explanations for collective differentiation in both physical and behavioral traits.

When people define and put about a particular conception of race, they create a social reality through which social categorization is achieved. In this sense, races are said to be social constructs. These constructs develop within various legal, economic, and sociopolitical contexts, and may be the effect, rather than the cause, of major social situations.

While race is understood to be a social construct by many, most scholars agree that race has real, material effects in housing discrimination, in the legal process, in policing practices, in education, etc. Omi and Winant’s theories of racial formation describe how “race is a concept which signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests by referring to different types of human bodies.” The meanings and implications of “race” are produced and invested in by social institutions as well as through cultural representations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_%28classification_of_humans%29

Certainly, cultural exchanges have been beneficial throughout history, but the same can be said for the opposite.

I wonder if you can offer us an example or two of the circumstances where interracial or cultural mixing has led to non-beneficial results in the long run.

Culheath, thanks for the clarification. I understand now what you were saying. I made it clear that I support interracial marriage and believe that cultural exchanges (with race as a part of this, naturally) have been beneficial to humankind. I also said that the opposite could be true, in the sense that specific, different cultures (which have never intermingled) give diversity and beauty to the world, and though "specific", are part of the collective cultural inheritance of all of humankind. They are not any the less for NOT having intermingled. I do not equate cultural "integrity" with racial or cultural "purity", and again, as I said before, many who champion the blending of cultures and the elimination of differences would be among the first to cry foul if westerners impacted the cultures of South American Indians or other indigenous peoples. If cultural integrity and the safeguarding of language, traditions, customs and beliefs is important for these groups, then it is important for all groups.

I believe that it is my goal - as a human being - to be the best person that I can be. I believe in moral integrity (however defined) and feel connected to all people on the planet. In pursuit of this, I must "exercise" my heart and mind, so as to cling fast to my beliefs. I do not exercise anything, nor make effort, nor strive, if the goal is to eliminate the very differences that we are made the better for by embracing! As a parallel, many of us are overweight. Why not eliminate the effort and conflict connected to good diet and exercise, and simply accept our collective fatness and make it the norm? We are better people when we accept, embrace, and celebrate differences. We do not become better people by eliminating differences. Some people like the color red. Some like blue. The answer to this "conflict" isn't to make everything grey.

I wonder if you can offer us an example or two of the circumstances where interracial or cultural mixing has led to non-beneficial results in the long run.

Interracial (black and white) children are generally less intelligent than children of European heritage. Studies involving the difference in IQ scores between different racial categories confirm this. Social scientists have put forth the notion that race is purely a social construct, however, many geneticists argue that labeling race as a psycho-social construct is...well, a little simplistic.

-racism-row-397261.html

Studies involving the difference in IQ scores between different racial categories confirm this

When were these IQ scores taken, at what age, and what were their educational and socio-economic backgrounds?

Those are rather important factors.

IQ scores of children show no variance dependent on ethnicity. It's not until you get into older age groups (when socio-economic, cultural, and educational factors start taking effect) that you see a major difference.

This indicates that your statistics actually have little to do with ethnicity itself, and far more to do with outside factors.

I've tried to post the studies, but for some reason, it keeps cutting them off.

Here's the Wikipedia article:

There are a huge number of sources relating to this phenomenon.

Nikolaus20

We are better people when we accept, embrace, and celebrate differences. We do not become better people by eliminating differences. Some people like the color red. Some like blue. The answer to this "conflict" isn't to make everything grey.

well said...d'accord :)

I've tried to post the studies, but for some reason, it keeps cutting them off

It did the same thing to me and I didn't know what would cause it, someone was nice enough to finally explain it to me. If you are new to Newsvine, maybe less than a year not sure, you are not allowed to post links to articles, but I found a way around it. When you post the link don't post the http://, it reconginizes it as a link and deletes it. When I figured that out I didn't have any more problems with the links. Granted people can't just click and open the link they have to copy and paste it in their browser, but if they aren't too lazy and want to read it, they won't have a problem.

Aha! Thank you very much!

wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence

independent.co.uk/news/science/as-he-arrives-in-britain-dna-pioneer-breaks-his-silence-on-racism-row-397261.html

psychology.uwo.ca/faculty/rushtonpdfs/PPPL1.pdf

nature.com/ng/journal/v36/n11s/full/ng1456.html

Regarding intelligence testing.... IQ is an entirely false construct. First, what we call IQ measures only a tiny group of skills that make up a human being and that will affect their success in life. Any differentiation of less than 10 points is not worth noticing. Second, here is how intelligence and IQ were explained to me in college. When we are born we are all given a bucket. Some people will get large buckets and some people will get small buckets. During your life you will fill up that bucket with all sorts of things. However, an IQ test will only measure at a certain kind of sand that you have in your bucket. If you have a tiny bucket but fill it entirely with only this particular type of sand, you might score higher than someone with a larger bucket who has a whole lot of other things in his bucket.

In short, the very narrow range of abilities that IQ tests for is completely culturally biased. 200 years ago, you would often find people who would memorize 24 stanza songs in a reading or two. It was actually a pretty common skill. We now no longer find that skill necessary in our socieity, therefore, you will find few people who can do that today (actors often memorize a script in a reading or two). Nature wants us to have a wide variety of skills and traits that will allow us to survive and adapt to many environments. IQ is somewhat laughable because it is predicated on a basically industrial society that values math and verbal skills alone.

I wonder what the statistics are for divorce, abuse, and murder of the spouse in the unions? Is it about the same? More?

Thank you very much!

Your welcome.

IQ is somewhat laughable because it is predicated on a basically industrial society that values math and verbal skills alone.

Mathematical and verbal skills are, by far, the most important indicators of success in any society, with the exception of a tribal one. IQ correlates highly with the degree of an individual's success in every meaningful field.

ASP... math and verbal skills would be far less helpful in a society that needed you to hunt for a living or one that needed social skills to negotiate treaties. IQ does not test for interpersonal, intrapersonal, athletic, spatial relationships, emotional intelligence or many of the dozen or more identified forms of intelligence.

You want your kid to be a sucess, they are going to need a whole lot of things beyond what the IQ socres measures. I would take a person on my team anytime with better interpersonal skills with a moderate IQ over a person with a high IQ and crappy interpersonal skills.

Mathematical and verbal skills are, by far, the most important indicators of success in any society, with the exception of a tribal one. IQ correlates highly with the degree of an individual's success in every meaningful field.

So does that mean asians are superior to whites?

Regarding intelligence testing.... IQ is an entirely false construct.

As a former research psychologist who was involved in the development and evaluation of IQ tests during the 1970's I can catagorically state that a person's IQ represents what was looked for by the test itself.

Unfortunately, the definition of IQ is so nebulous that the term IQ is essentially meaningless. Give me a couple of days and I could design an IQ test that could prove any "race" to be superior to all others.

AS9138 Heard of the multiple intelligences theory? Michael Jordan, Michelangelo, Mozart, Beethoven, Einstein, Mother Theresa - all extremely "brilliant" people, most of whom (all except Einstein probably) I'd probably outscore on a traditional "IQ" test but I wouldn't dare say I was more of a genius than Beethoven - heck I wouldn't say I was a genius at all.

So pointing to some IQ test that says if you're mixed your IQ is lower is rubbish, because at age 5 Beethoven's IQ I'm sure was lower than most adults, but could these people do what he did at that age?

And even if you wanted to go the traditional IQ route, MOST of the highly intelligent black people in America (and by extension the world) are not purely black but have mixtures (albeit small in some cases, not so small in others e.g. Obama) of either Native American or White (those probably being more common)...so, either way I don't put any value on those links.

Well, since I'm part asian and white - I'm superior to AS9138 according to his own nonsense. What's it like being inferior to me AS9138?

Huahh Shuklack!

Shuklack;

I would hope that you can recognize the discussion as one of averages. No "inferiority" or "superiority", just numbers.

IQ does not test for interpersonal, intrapersonal, athletic, spatial relationships, emotional intelligence or many of the dozen or more identified forms of intelligence.

Coincidentally, IQ correlates highly with all of those forms of intelligence you've listed (with the exception of athletics).

So does that mean asians are superior to whites?

In terms of average IQ distribution? Yes, however, by a relatively slim margin.

Give me a couple of days and I could design an IQ test that could prove any "race" to be superior to all others.

Hahaha, I'm sure you could.

And even if you wanted to go the traditional IQ route, MOST of the highly intelligent black people in America (and by extension the world) are not purely black but have mixtures (albeit small in some cases, not so small in others e.g. Obama) of either Native American or White (those probably being more common)...so, either way I don't put any value on those links.

Again, I never stated that "all blacks were inferior to all whites", I'm merely pointing out the average difference.

I would hope that you can recognize the discussion as one of averages. No "inferiority" or "superiority", just numbers.

Right, you aren't implying anything with your implications. lol

I'm still curious how you feel about being my inferior, see I wouldn't know because my ethnicity automatically makes me everyone's better. Just trying to get some perspective and all, I want to understand what it's like being born into inferiority... how do you overcome it?

On a side note, Severed, please forgive me if I find a bit of humor in "As a former research psychologist.." who uses the screen name "Severed Head in a Jar".

Interracial (black and white) children are generally less intelligent than children of European heritage. Studies involving the difference in IQ scores between different racial categories confirm this. Social scientists have put forth the notion that race is purely a social construct, however, many geneticists argue that labeling race as a psycho-social construct is...well, a little simplistic.

That is absurd. Intelligence is comprised of many factors, and some culturally biased IQ test cannot measure all of them. Nor can the inferior public education that minorities receive be ignored in the results of such tests.

This 'lower IQ among minorities argument' is not only bogus, it leads to discrimination and perpetuation of false stereotypes.

I'm still curious how you feel about being my inferior, see I wouldn't know because my ethnicity automatically makes me everyone's better.

Shulack, I don't think you understand the argument at hand. Again, there is a notable difference in average IQ between whites and blacks. It is a serious problem with unpleasant, yet extremely important implications. The gap between white and East Asian IQ scores is fairly negligible:

For the record, I'm Asian/white as well.

That is absurd. Intelligence is comprised of many factors, and some culturally biased IQ test cannot measure all of them.

If intelligence tests are culturally biased, why do East Asian populations generally outscore European populations?

Based on the knowledge some of you possess, per your comments, you may find this interesting:

http://www.vdare.com/articles/pisa-scores-show-demography-is-destiny-in-education-too-but-washington-doesnt-want-you-to-k

Shulack, I don't think you understand the argument at hand

Of course you do, my ethnicity indicates that I'm smarter than you, remember?

The gap between white and East Asian IQ scores is fairly negligible:

But there is still a gap right? Obviously though you aren't a typical white person, I mean typical white people are just so stupid and can hardly articulate sentences - which you seem capable of... maybe you have some asian blood.

For the record, I'm Asian/white as well.

Oh look, yep figured that was the case since you aren't flinging your own feces at the computer screen and mashing on the keyboard like your average white person.

Correlation does not equal causation.

Socio-economic status is a far more solid predictor of IQ than ethnicity, it just so happens that ethnicity tends to falls along lines of socio-economic status.

If intelligence tests are culturally biased, why do East Asian populations generally outscore European populations?

Because the cultural bias benefits them even more than it does caucasian. Obviously.

As someone for whom the IQ test was considered irrelevant. As my cousins practice dummy I took it so many times I knew the questions and the answers. It has always been slanted towards northern urban youth. Rural children have always done worse on it and it has nothing to do with race but on enviorment. You don't teach your child to cross at the light on your gravel road between corn fields, etc.

Socio-economic status is a far more solid predictor of IQ than ethnicity, it just so happens that ethnicity tends to falls along lines of socio-economic status.

Had you read any of my sources, you'd realize that this simply isn't true.

Because the cultural bias benefits them even more than it does caucasian. Obviously.

This doesn't even make sense. Do you read what I write, or do you prefer to spout childish ad-hominem attacks which make you look ill informed?

Do you read what I write, or do you prefer to spout childish ad-hominem attacks which make you look ill informed?

How dare you speak to your superior in such a crass and obviously inferior manner!? You are obviously not as asian as I am, so you have no right to dare challenge me on anything. Your natural inferiority must be interfering with your higher brain function, unlike mine, which is uninhibited by tainted blood.

Had you read any of my sources, you'd realize that this simply isn't true

Your sources are fine, but the conclusions drawn are questionable at best. If you were as asian as me and capable of my level of high logic, you would know this. I will just chalk this up to the natural inferiority you were born with.

ASP... It's quite simple, because Asian cultures value verbal and mathematical ability even MORE than caucasian cultures, they do better on the very narrow range of skills for which IQ tests look.

I'm not even asian, but it was fun watching him back peddle as I trolled.

If you want to know why Asian students do better in Math and Science, look at the way those subjects are taught in schools there versus here. In Korea, many students go to 'cram schools' where they spend every waking moment at their studies.

I'm not even asian, but it was fun watching him back peddle as I trolled.

And to think, I actually thought you were trying to make a point. Where, exactly, did I backpedal?

kabeetoys.. You may want to look at Massachusetts. When Massachusetts submits its scores to internation tests like the TIMSS and PIRLS seperately from the rest of the USA, they come in the top 5 countries. We don't have that large of an asian population. Okay, I'll fess up. I live in Massachusetts and when I got out of the Army and had a daughter to educate, I put my foot down and forced the move back here because of the education. So, what is Massachusetts doing that other states aren't? Well, first they fund the schools very well and they have a vigorous Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They have an amalgam of district, charter, pilot, magnet and Horace Mann schools. The one size fits all education model is breaking down here in Massachusetts, but all are overseen by the DESE. We do spend a lot of our budget on education, but states should look to see what we are doing. They probably won't like it, because it does cost money.

What AS9 likes to gloss over when talking about IQ test distribution is:

A: When looking at scores, there is incredible overlap. What this overlap illustrates is that you can not assume someone of any race has a low IQ based upon their race alone.

B: There are many studies that stress that the quality of care a person receives in their formidable years (nutrition, family life, education) has a huge impact on their IQ. Funny, if you look at the grouping gaps, the "races" that do best as whole oddly stress educations more than others, have lower rates of divorce or single parents, and earn more per house hold allowing them to afford better educations for their offspring.

C. The last nail in the coffin for thinking that Race has a bearing on IQ is the fact that not only have the latest studies shown that the "Racial gap" has narrowed to within 10 points, but the avg IQ has risen for all groups with some groups having a dramatic increase over the past 20 years (ie: African Americans). Again this points to IQ being highly dependent on other factors; not the constant of genetics.

Many studies on race have been done and have found that IQ variance between socio-economic groups is something real while race is much more of a social construct than anything else. True genetic variance in groups DOES not align with self identified racial groups.

On a side note, Severed, please forgive me if I find a bit of humor in "As a former research psychologist.." who uses the screen name "Severed Head in a Jar".

Well, I did stop doing that in 1975. Especially because the guy I was working for was Russel G. Leiter. If you do a little internet research you'll find that he was one of the psychologists who was convinced that IQ was race-related.

That's one reason why I quit doing that for a living. Just shows that nobody's perfect.

Interracial (black and white) children are generally less intelligent than children of European heritage. Studies involving the difference in IQ scores between different racial categories confirm this. Social scientists have put forth the notion that race is purely a social construct, however, many geneticists argue that labeling race as a psycho-social construct is...well, a little simplistic.

AS9138

You are proof that IQ does not measure, bigotry or narrow thinking. Most Americans descending from African roots are mixed with at least one other race. If you would look at photos of the following prominent people, (I picked four), you can tell that they are mixed with other races.

Dr. Charles Drew

He developed a long-term blood preservation technique. Before his innovation, blood could not be stored for longer than two days.

Frederick Douglas

He was born to a black slave and an unknown, (unnamed) white man.

Ralph Bunche

Ralph Bunche was the first African American Nobel Prize Peace winner.

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

In 1961 Mr. Powell became chairman of the Education and Labor committee and one of Congress most influential people.

I could find studies that show that all civilization began in Africa and I could find studies that conclude that according to certain DNA markers, Asians descended from people of South Africa.

I do not care how intelligent an individual is; or how much knowledge he or she has, that person can still be a bigot and small minded.

If all the test subjects were equal; the same educational opportunities, same Socio-economic factors perhaps I could give your conclusions some credence. When given the opportunities, African Americans ( most are mixed) are equal to all other races in intelligence and skill. My point is that even scholars can be racist.

Tom - "Many studies on race have been done and have found that IQ variance between socio-economic groups is something real".... wins the prize.

Time and time again, socioeconomics has been determined to be the key "IQ" factor. Regardless of the kid's ethnic background.

Do some poor kids rise up from nothing? Fortunately, in America, they can, but they are truly at a disadvantage. The current cuts to education funding are even more of a detriment to America's future.

It is about time. Racism will not exist once all races are so intermingled that nobody can tell the difference.

Now, if we could only make those inroads into the religious extremist, nutjobs out there. Then there would be peace.

I could find studies that show that all civilization began in Africa and I could find studies that conclude that according to certain DNA markers, Asians descended from people of South Africa.

Well, its not a matter of studies but a matter of fact. Oh and if anyone has hard time believing Asians came from South Africa...take a trip there some time (or cover Nelson Mandela's hair and tell me he doesn't look like a tan old Asian man: www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/nelson-mandela-1.jpg )

But what are you doing bringing "facts" into this conversation? Facts don't matter where racism and bigotry are concerned.

So..nobody is going to even attempt to disprove me with evidence?

I'm fairly new here, but most comment boards I post on at least make a token effort to post some kind of supporting evidence for their claims.

Sgt S-Any good in your post is negated by the the nasty, mean, reverse racist uncalled for horrible remarks that you made in the last 3 lines of post 7.1. What in Gods name makes you judge, jury and execution over Mark or anybody whos' opinions differ from yours??? Why to make yourself sound stupid and immature!!!!! Your point could have been made without the nastiness and the last lines death wish for a fellow human being. Why should anybody have to tolerate your nasty attitude???

Hmmm. I guess it's which side of the fence you're on, Mr. Binkie. We like to say,

"It's mostly white women marrying black men, Asian men, Hispanic men, Indian men..."

Hmmm. The common denominator (no pun intended) is 'white women' in these unions. Is something wrong with white men?

See? Perspective. LOL

You don't see it happen the other way round because there is a stupid bias existing amongst blacks that if a black woman marries outside of her ethinicity, she's a sell out! In some countries in Africa, she'd even be considered a prostitute...and this is because most of the expats in these countries tend to service prostitutes a lot so all black women end up being clubbed in this category...and this is a fact! In case you're wondering how I know this, I used to live in Africa and I've seen this for myself. Anyway, there are other reasons as well but this is just one that comes to mind.

As DesperatelySeekingtheTruth also rightly said, depends on which side of the fence.

I'm dating a black woman, her family accepts me but her father doesn't really like the idea of her dating outside her race.

"Why don't you find a nice black boy?" sort of thing.

I think there is more pressure on black women to marry black men, because they are seen as the ones responsible for maintaining cultural integrity.

Good question, but I believe you know the answer.

I'm a white man married for many years to an Asian professional, who I see not as an Asian but the woman I love. We lived for several years in her country, but one of the reasons we moved back to the USA was that in many cases when out in public she was viewed as a prostitute and that was too uncomfortable.

I have no problem with interracial couples and am glad to see race becoming less of an issue. However...what I do have a problem with is seeing so many unmarried interracial couples having babies where the father, usually black, is no longer present. This has been a problem within the black community for a long time with women being the sole providers for their children. Children being raised without any father being involved in their lives. This is a non-beneficial part of the black culture which is continuing regardless of the woman being black, white, Hispanic, Asian, etc.

I worked in a predominantly black office for several years and when I mentioned that my father left my mother when my sister and I were young - had no idea where he was - the reaction was very telling. Jaws dropped, eyebrows almost flew off their faces, as they couldn't believe it. "I didn't know that white men left their families like that!" was the most common response. Very telling and very sad.

I only wish that ALL fathers and mothers of ALL races would just stick around and support their children. I also wish that men and women would respect each other enough and take responsibility for what they bring into this world. A child is not a status symbol for your masculinity or femininity.

NVart, white people are called european-americans, you just don't hear it outside academic circles much. for the most part i think these hyphenated labels are stupid. african- americans prefer to be called black, native-americans prefer to be called indian, and so on.....

And how would you have felt about my Swedish/American walk away father who abandoned us before I was born. My mother was German/Polish/American.

Shuklack

I'm dating a black woman, her family accepts me but her father doesn't really like the idea of her dating outside her race.

"Why don't you find a nice black boy?" sort of thing.

I think there is more pressure on black women to marry black men, because they are seen as the ones responsible for maintaining cultural integrity.

My family was not in favor of me dating a black man, but now my hubby's the favorite son-in-law, even though my sisters married white men. Hopefully with a little time your girlfriend's family will fully realize that as long as you treat her right, nothing else matters :)

I am Black, and a good portion of my family(marries who they happen to love black white and asian) have a very big melting pot of people. There is Korean mixed, white, Indian and other black women or men as well. So really its the not only the setting enviroment your in to mingle and meet the one no matter what race they are. But for your very narrow observation of families you probably have never met(your the white guy with one minorty friend I imagine), I suppose your observations are pretty meritless??

When my cousin and his girlfriend (AA) announced they were getting married, her professional parents were NOT happy. Granted, my cousin did not finish his degree, and she did, but he has a great job (computers), they have a couple of nice kids in a nice home they own.
Now, they all get along, but it was funny when his mom declared she was tired of the reverse discrimination.
If a young woman of AA descent wants to marry a nice white guy, or whatever ethnic background - she should go for it.

only wish that ALL fathers and mothers of ALL races would just stick around and support their children. I also wish that men and women would respect each other enough and take responsibility for what they bring into this world. A child is not a status symbol for your masculinity or femininity.

Well said.

Marriage should be about marrying the one you LOVE, cherish and respect. It should not be about ones ethnicity.

As a black woman this is my personal opinion and I can't speak for anyone else. Growing up I attented Westerville City Schools which is predominantly white. Over the years I was the victim of down right life altering racial comments, to harrassment, to a race riot at school my freshman year in high school. I learned to be skeptical of white people's intentions when they offered to be a part of anything pertaining to me. As I grew older i was still weary of them but I learned not all white people or all any people are bad. Racist people are just that racist people no matter their color. However, I have always been an open minded person. Unfortunately, someone with a less open mind given my experience might end up disliking whites. However, I jsut think it is a subconscience thing as far as what I am attracted to. I honestly never even attempted to date a man of caucasion decent. But Im not saying I wouldn't honestly I just like a fine man :)

When my daughter was a teenager I told her:
"I don't care what color a man is or what religion a man is: just don't get tied in with a man who won't work."

She subsequently married a man from the Middle East who is a very hard worker, and kind and generous as well.

Allison-2,Native Americans are not Indians,that is a name that Columbus gave them when he captured some and took them back to Spain to prove that he had been to India.

Some of us have forgotten that less than two hundred years ago in some parts of what is now the US that it was illegal to teach blacks or natives to read or write,that might have something to do with the IQ thing.

Native Americans are not Indians

Correct. They are American Indians, often shortened to "Indians" when the sentence is clearly within an American context.

that is a name that Columbus gave them when he captured some and took them back to Spain to prove that he had been to India

Also correct.

Why is this relevant?

Let's not elect Santorum and turn back the hands of time.

Agree with you 100% Sam. If InSanitorium wins.... we'll be going back farther than 60 years.

and if obama wins we will be in debt for at least 60 yrs

We'll be in debt forever whoever wins.

If Obrainless wins the $hit is definitely gonna hit the fan!!! Businesses and entrepreneurs will just stop hiring and creating businesses and hold onto and hide their cash til the next cycle. By then it will be too late to save our once great nation.

All of you brainwashed libs remember this post! If Obrainless wins again we will be close to 30 TRILLION in debt by the end of his second term.

Ticked off in Ohio - What does your comment have to do with Interracial marriage?

If you are so against Obama, why don't you RUN for president, comment back here with your plan, and let us see exactly what you are doing to do. If you can't do that, then stop whining and complaining.

ticked off in Ohio: I think we ARE in the process of saving this great nation (from limited minds like yours).

sense you can't spell, Obama just making it a little harder for crocket businesses owners and entrepreneurs to hide the tax dollars that they should be paying in taxes like the rest of us.

Ticked off in Ohio,

I could not find a basis for your comment in the article about the rise of interracial marriages in America.

However, if President Obama (half white and half African) wins re-election, the economy would soar, business would start re-hiring and Congress would stop fighting most bills the Democrats propose. The reason being, the Republicans will know that their strategy to take the White House did not work. The employers who have been sitting on their money will start to invest and hire again because the game is over, and Congress will start preparing for the next Presidential election.

Oh by the way, we will still a high debt. FYI: Japan has the highest debt to GDP; however, most of its debt is financed by its citizens. Why don't you stop complaining and start investing in your beloved country, AMERICA. Buy bonds and buy items made in America.

Fxdx1450,we have been in debt over 60 years already and just two presidents ,Ronald Reagen and George Bush Jr. are responsible for over 60% of it.

This needs to be the top comment. Ethnic background and race aren't the same thing. Human is the race, people.

Human is actually the species, but 'race' could be applied when considering other possible hominids (or even aliens).

Race is a construct we only really apply to humans to categorize our physical differences in appearance but it can also be applied to other beings (hominids, aliens, whatever), ethnicity is a more specific version of the same construct but it is limited only to a particular species.

Ethnicity is preferable to using 'race' because the term 'race' can indeed imply that a person of a different ethnicity is 'alien' or another species entirely.

I was suprised by that hair brainned comment as well... it's sad really .

Never happen - people with those tendencies would still find something to hate.

It appears, per your "observation", that the liberated woman,knows what she wants,where it's at,and how to get it,and so do some men.

all you see on advertising is a white female and black male . i really don't think its equal for black women. if anyone is being discriminated on its the black female. its always a big score for a black male to get a white female.. maybe some day interracial wont be one sided. even when i see a black couple together the female is lighter skinned . must be black men don't like women darker then themselves. and this is all over TV . think a lot of white females get suckered in on race thinking its cool. when its just a game . hope i don't offend anyone ,this is my observation from years of media propaganda.

Steve, how do you get from "if race isn't real" to the rest of your statement? It makes no sense.

If you want to make sweeping statements about the makeup of interracial couples, fell free, especially if you have solid stats to back them up. But that has nothing to do with "race being real".

Also I suspect you are making this statement based on personal observation, you should realize this, understand that you don't actually KNOW and that it is just your observation.

Steve, I was going to say the same thing...That has been my observation as well..:)

I always seem to see black men with obese white women LOL. Maybe white men don't appreciate a giant booty as much as black men.

Murphy, I just hope you get suppressed. Ick.

Ethnicity encompasses more than just race. Race is only a section of a job application.

Murphy - Women were only allowed to vote in the US in 1920. Many other countries only allowed this primary right later and in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, this was only recently allowed. Women have been considered as property up until then and the Equal Rights Amendment was only ratified within the past 30 years. This affected all women. So don't talk about "white" women being "set free" from bondage from any man. This has only been a recent development for all women of all ethnicities. No, "white" women were not captured and sold into slavery like "black" women, but their chains and shackles were invisible, nonetheless.

I think it is a status symbol for a black man to be with a white woman. Not being racist just sharing my observations. I have alot of black friends. Some blacks do not approve of mixed marriages though.

Cultural pressure

Attraction, is a matter of personal preference. If you will notice, black men are almost three times as likely to marry a white woman, than black women are to marry a white man. That means that white women, are also attracted to black men. However, don't worry about it, black women aren't attracted to, white men. However, the white slave owner was attracted to African women. If that wasn't the case, there wouldn't have been any fair skinned, black people, in this country.

I think there are a lot of white men who are attracted to black women but won't date them because they know they will be ostracized by their peers and shun by society....That is truly sad because a lot of them are in unhappy relationships and sometimes that soul mate you are looking for is not always the same skin color as yours....but that applies to blacks, latinos and asians as well....

Kris and Big Bubba just wanted to point out history is full of all races being sold into slavery including whites. Also many white people were forced to become indentured servants and were treated just the same and sometimes worse than slaves. Supposedly they were to be set free after their term of servitude was over. Often they were never freed. In fact there were indentured servants still being held against their will after slavery was ended. History is full of mans inhumaity to man regardless of race, religion or political views.

In considering "black/white" ratios, women in general are more likely to look at the person first, as regards a relationship. Since "white" women have demographically outnumbered other ethnic classifications - it is no wonder "black" men "marry out" more often. They have opportunity, simple as that.

I wish more "black" women would likewise consider another ethnic background for a relationship. Some of the articles out there to read would indicate they are the last holdouts among women.

Buy American, I can't believe someone actually said it, or even notices. It's like being a herder walking around sheep.

'Look, that couple on TV looks like they have everything, I should be just like them...'

Marketing is a strange thing because it sells dreams to the most vulnerable to the message. That's why child stars are so revered by the media. Because the market is so impressionable. It's somewhat sick when you really think about it, but anything to make a buck and keep the American commerce machine moving.

The hope is that people can think for themselves and see such shows for what they are but such shows are presented to kids so early in life that they make lasting impressions. And my question is who's agenda is pushing all this? Who finds it important? And why is race paraded as the most important issue that must be dissected, and destroyed through homogenization rather than the real issue of cultural differences that may never be resolved?

Dance puppets, dance. It's sad.

Ahhhh the "trophy syndrome."

People who are open-minded enough to date outside of their race do so because they are judging people for the content of their character, not to show off... It's always the bigots who want to classify who they feel is superior as the trophy or object of desire by the "inferior."

Finally, I think stereotypes keep men of all races from approaching black women. I know several gorgeous "black" women who date outside of their race, but if you ever speak to them about dating, they will tell you that they get approached less by men than their counter-parts who arent black. I have asked some of my friends (of various races) who have indicated that they just didnt think black women would be interested in them, or had the "angry black woman"/"ghetto" stereotypes firmly implanted in their heads so they never even tried to approach some of the black women that they were interested in.

Steve is #1 - Speaking a black woman, I was fortunate to be taught to love everyone equally. I've dated men of all different ethnicities; however, by far more white men approach me, followed by an equal portion of Black and Latino men. My sister's mother is Caucasian and my dad wasn't into her for any form of status. When people of any background get together its from "ATTRACTION". Everyone has different taste. I also know more white women who prefer anything but white. Sounds crazy but i see it all the time. So like you mentioned your not into Black women but Asian women are easy on your eyes, realize this is because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Our similarities bring us together and our differences can tear us apart. When you meet someone who stimulates your mind, heart, soul, the last thing you'll think about is the color of their skin. There will always be racial issues because people want to have a superiority complex, thinking that this or that makes your better, and in this case its the color of ones skin. Don't let color denture you from getting to know a person, you never know what you'll find.

Currently our society does recognize different races. But it is a fact that there is no biological reason for it. And it looks like the population is beginning to realize that the color of one's skin makes no difference.

OK, then, give us a list of all your "official" races. And tell us the "distinguishing characteristics of each." In detail. with documentation.

There will be a test later.

Since the asian in my ancestery has been there since the 1200's and is culturally ignored by my people as a way to keep our tribe ethnically viable as a people. Race is an artificial construct ignored when it serves the people to ignore it.

Archie married a black woman

that is not thru.

Explain

I myself coming from very multicultural family (7 nationalities) can attest that most people love to put down their race as other. There should not be any classification in the first place. its only lately that other has been intergrated. Why should one denounce one side of heritage.

It's true. As a white parent of a mixed race child... as a whole blacks will generally accept the person more than whites (just read some of the posts) therefore, the child will gravitate more to blacks. Most whites are very accepting...others you really don't know where you stand

Because it is the law. The one drop of black blood theory, read a book!

Perhaps, some mixed race people call themselves black because their skin is darker than their white parent and their features are more African American. Wouldn't make much sense to call oneself white then.

My children are fortunate as they are truly color-blind. I have African American/White cousins, they have a Korean cousin, Korean/White cousins,Vietnamese/White cousins and Native American/White cousins. From birth they have been fortunate to have a rich diversity of ethnicity to expand their horizons.

Same as my kids, It helps even more if u are able to travel and visit different cultures and heritage. We Can all get along. Smile life is short.

When asked for my race on a form, I generally write in "human".

I believe Albert Einstein was known to do the same.

Yes, I'm sure most people will put "other" on the form - unless they think they can get a scholarship out of it.

untoryodi: I think what the root "B Stevens" question is getting is more of a black / white issue. Not to get political, but the easiest person to point to is Barack Obama. His mother was white and his father was Kenyan. So why does he call himself as black and not white?

I don't see it much as a definition issue with Asians and Hispanics as I do with blacks. I have two brother-in-laws who are Vietnamese and Korean respectively.

My daughter is white/asian. Her cousin is black/asian.

Because historically that is the way idiots have classified anybody they could see was mixed race.You know white ( if we ignore history in Europe) and all those others.

I went on a cruise once with my wife. I thought she said she was going upstairs for a "massageneme"!

He probably calls himself black because when people look at him they classify him as black. When I was in HS getting ready for college exams I checked other because my family is Irish, Native American Indian and Black, and my counselor got so mad at me. He said, "I'm German but I still check black." I didn't know what I was supposed to do because my heritage was never an issue in my family and it was the first time I had faced that type of anger from somebody who was supposed to be helping me. I still check other, but that doesn't make everybody happy. That's their problem, not mine.

Because that's just how it is--like the law of some sort--which doesn't make much sense to me. It is noticeable though that the black gene is always or mostly more dominant in a black/white person.

Ok, that "law" was the State of VA's "one drop rule". It's just one of a few odd attempts to classify people back in the day. Even the 1820 Census put anyone not able to say "white" - as "colored", whether a Native American, or some shade of some other "color". The state of LA had another bizarre route to go, trying "quadroon", "octotoon" - that stuff is not the law of the land even down south in the land of cotton any more. Except maybe in some backward minds, geez.

I am someone who people would call "Multi-Racial." I often get asked 'what I am" and always respond that I am a human or American. I'll eventually tell them my ethnic background but my point is people like defining others.

As far as gravitation to a particular racial group goes. I have found that minorities and particularly blacks are the most accepting of who you are regardless of what you are. I have had bad racial experiences with all groups, but the most and scariest with racist whites. To give you a comparison, I have definitely felt bad and out of place being called an "oreo" by some racist blacks but those rare situations do not even compare to being stopped on the street by a group of white men and literally fearing for my safety as they aggressively harrassed me.

With all that said I have a "rainbow" of friends that I grew up with and acquired over the years who are wonderful, open-minded people. I wouldn't say that I gravitate towards any one group of people, but based on my experiences I definitely can see why someone would.

That reminds me of the first time my wife called me an a$$hole. I asked her if I was this way when she first met me? She replied, "No". I said, "That oughta tell you something."

that will be next , mixed marriage ,, then gay marriage ,, i think in the near future bestiality will be legal

Jeanine
Would you please post some reasons for your statements. I mean, you sound so certain surely you have given this a lot of thought, done some reading, some research. I would like to read exactly how you came to this conclusion. Or is it simply that that was your parents stance and you have no idea why?

Jeanine - White people have nicer features? Really? By whose standards? Better values? Last time I checked being a jerk, creep, low-life, trash or whatever didn't have any "color" requirements!

But it seems a majority or at least a large percentaged of models and ladies in commercials and ads are mixed-race beauties. I think this is seen as the new ideal.

Well considering the failures of my three marriage the best relationships I ever had had four feet and a tail. Always happy to see me, didn't complain about dinner and didn't hog the TV. Also were ready to cuddle without pressure at all times.

Ahhhh....

You've gotta love the "Race Card" accusers. They're really funny.

All you have to do is write a little article like this and, BAM!

Suddenly they can't help but revert back to the same old, "White Power" idealogy.

No more, "You're just playing the race card" nonsense. Right to the meat - Check out Jeanine's comment above. There you have it.

Will you guys just stop with the phony claims of tolerance? I mean, honestly. Do you REALLY think that anybody believes you're not just run-of-the-mill, plain old bigots?

C'mon, already. Jeanine above has shown you the way. Embrace your Supremacist bigotry. Only then will you be able to grow out of it.