Interracial Marriage Changing American Society

Forty years ago, on June 12, 1967, the US Supreme Court overruled a Virginia statute preventing Caucasians from marrying people of other races. As a result of that landmark decision in the case of Loving v. Virginia, other intermarriage bans in fifteen additional states were overturned as well. However, the real effects of interracial marriage are just now being felt as interracial marriage has become more common within the last couple of decades. The statistics alone demonstrate the change. "Black-white marriages increased from 65,000 in 1970 to 422,000 in 2005, according to Census Bureau figures. Factoring in all racial combinations, Stanford University sociologist Michael Rosenfeld calculates that more than 7 percent of America's 59 million married couples in 2005 were interracial, compared to less than 2 percent in 1970." (MNBC) While the statistics provide a backdrop for discussion of interracial marriage, it does not begin to tell the entire story. The societal change within the United States is deeper than interracial marriage.

While there are high profile children of interracial couples such as Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, and Paula Abdoul making headlines, they only serve to briefly highlight the change that has occurred in the United States with regards to interracial marriages and families over the last forty years. In truth, it runs much deeper. In addition to an increase in interracial marriages, interracial adoptions and a growing population of immigrants from all over the globe are helping to change race relations in the United States as well. The new generation of adults, many whom were born after 1970, are not only more likely to be products of interracial marriages, they are also more likely to marry interracially as well.

According to a Cornell University study from 2005, younger adults are more likely to have an interracial sexual relationship and marry interracially than older adults. "The number of interracial marriages involving whites, blacks and Hispanics each year in the United States has jumped tenfold since the 1960s, but the older individuals are, the less likely they are to partner with someone of a different race, finds the new study." (Cornell University study) This study highlights the realization that while interracial dating and marriage is continually becoming more acceptable in the United States, there is still opposition and issues faced by interracial couples.

As a result of the growing trend towards interracial relationships, marriage, and adoption, new online resources for interracial relationships are emerging. This is also due in part to the fact that many interracial couples and families still find opposition within some segments of society. One of the most popular websites is called intergrata.com. The website offers practical advice for interracial dating, interracial couples, and those open to the idea of interracial dating. It also includes stories about interracial couples, as well as illustrations on how to effectively deal with family opposition. While interracial relationships in the United States are not yet the norm, the trend towards interracial marriage and families is showing no sign of letting up.

Sources: MSNBC, Cornell University study, intergrata.com