When it comes to love and relationship skin colour is not a factor (and thank goodness because I am African American and live in a city where blacks make up less than 2%
of the population). Statistics Canada says mixed-race unions grew a dramatic 33% between 2001 and 2006 mostly due to the growing number of visible minorities in Canada.
Online dating sites and celebrities are also crossing the racial barrier with model and television host Heidi Klum marrying English R&B singer Seal in 2005. Together the pair has three children.
Why do people stare?
As a single person I date quite a bit and often see persons staring at myself and my caucasian partner. Does it make me uncomfortable? Yes, it does. Do I care? I pretend not to but ever so often I catch myself looking around to see who is looking back at me!
Why do people stare at interracial couples? This one I can't answer for sure. I myself stare at other interracial couples and I think to myself "what a cute couple, they would make beautiful babies" but when a caucasian is staring at me the look I get makes me assume they are thinking "what is he doing with her? Can't he find a caucasian woman to date?"
Oddly enough, my dates never notice the stares which leads me to believe I myself am self-conscious about dating someone of a different race. Now, I think I have above normal confidence so I just stare right back (lol) but I think this self-consciousness comes from a deeply ingrained notion that interracial dating is just plain wrong. However, if persons dated strictly within their own race the world would be such a boring and monochrome world, wouldn't it?
Interracial couples tend to face more issues within their relationship as well, from what to eat for dinner to meshing with the in laws who may not be as liberal as younger generations. The secret is...these differences don't have to be negative. Differences can be fun and interesting, for example, different foods and music to experience that can make you a more well-rounded and accepting individual.
Bottom line, I say go for it. Your heart does not care about skin colour so it doesn't matter if someone else does! |
