A Persuasive Piece on Interracial Relationships
By Anna Bartelt
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Introduction
In our modern society, there is a hidden prejudice. One that doesn’t get talked about enough as it should be. This prejudice? Interracial relationships. Trevor Noah is the son of a black woman and a white man. He mentions in an interview with NPR, that when he lived in Africa, his parents would have to hide the fact that he was their child. In South Africa, interracial marriage had been illegal until 1985. Interracial relationships should be legal, and they should not have to hide their intimacy. If we take action against this prejudice against interracial couples, we can continue making progress in abolishing racism.
THUG: Insight
A young black woman, Starr, is dating a white boy. Starr’s parents show hesitancy surrounding the idea, in which the dad states is because, “girls usually date boys who are like their daddies,” (Thomas 271). Once Starr, the protagonist, explains to her dad that he should, “set a good example of what a man should be,” (Thomas 271), and not just what a black man should be, he eased up and became more accepting of Starr’s boyfriend. The stigma surrounding interracial relationships may be caused by racial differences, but it could also be due to insecurity, as in Starr’s case.
Communication within Couples
Today's society is more accepting of interracial marriage than it was in the past, although not many are openly positive about it. Interracial couples face a lot of problems during a marriage, such as hostility from others. Society’s animosity towards interracial relationships eventually has an effect on the couples themselves. The people in the relationship should not try to keep their “stress and prejudice created by others” (Stritof) to themselves. In order for a healthy interracial relationship, there has to be a good level of communication about one’s problems.
We Need A Change
A majority of Americans say that we need a change; so why has nothing happened? Around six-in-ten Americans believe that America has not completely abolished racism, whereas 30% believe that America has fulfilled the changes required to “bring about equality” (Pew Research Center). More than half of people say that racism is still present in society, yet it doesn’t seem as though anyone, besides people who have experienced it, is doing anything about it. People are shamed for dating, or even being friends with, a person of color, even though they are no different from any white person.
Conclusion
Multicultural couples should not have to live in fear that they’ll be arrested or get called slurs. The time to fight against this discrimination is now. It’s not something to keep pushing off, waiting for the next generation to fix the mistakes that our past ancestors made. We have to end this unfairness. Interracial relationships should be legal, and they shouldn’t have to hide their affection for one another. Black and white people deserve to be treated equally, without unjust prejudice towards any race. We can continue making progress in eradicating racism, as long as we realize our society’s bias and fight against that bias.
Informational Sources:
“Discrimination and Racial Inequality.” Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, 27 June 2016, www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/3-discrimination-and-racial-inequality/.
P, Kim. “Interracial Marriage Statistics.” CreditDonkey, www.creditdonkey.com/interracial-marriage-statistics.html.
Staff, NPR. “'Daily Show' Host Writes About Growing Up Biracial In South Africa.” NPR, NPR, 11 Nov. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/11/11/501679293/daily-show-host-writes-about-growing-up-in-biracial-south-africa.
Stritof, Sheri. “Challenges That Come With an Interracial Marriage.” Verywell Mind, Dotdash, www.verywellmind.com/interracial-marriage-challenges-2303129.
Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. Balzer & Bray/Harperteen, 2017
Visual Sources:
“SPSSI's Journal Focuses on Interracial Marriage.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sound-science-sound-policy/201601/spssi-s-journal-focuses-interracial-marriage.