Pew Research: 83% Of Americans Approve Of Interracial Dating

[DeSwiss]

83% - Approve Interracial Dating

Pew Research Center
Fri Jun 1, 1:00 AM ET

More than eight-in-ten Americans (83%) now agree that "it’s all right for blacks and whites to date," reflecting the most dramatic change among the racial attitudes tested in Pew polls--as recently as 1987, the public was divided virtually down the middle on the issue, with 48% approving of blacks and whites dating and 46% disapproving.

Age is an important factor in attitudes toward interracial dating. In this regard, Pew surveys since 1987 have documented two complementary trends: Each new generation is more tolerant than the one that precedes it. At the same time, members of each generation have become increasingly tolerant as it ages.

Together, these trends help explain the increase in expressions of tolerance toward interracial dating in recent decades. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans born before 1946 (65%) say it is acceptable for whites to date blacks. In contrast, this tolerant view of interracial dating is shared by more than eight-in-ten Baby Boomers (84%) and members of Generation X (87%), who were born between 1965 and 1976. Among younger people there is even broader acceptance of interracial dating: 94% of those born since 1977 say it is all right for blacks and whites to date.

There have also been striking changes since the late 1980s in how people of different races view black-white dating. In 1987-88, fewer than half of whites (44%) said that interracial dating was acceptable; that number has nearly doubled (to 81%) in the current survey. Two decades ago, about three-quarters of blacks (74%) felt interracial dating was acceptable. Today, nearly all African Americans (97%) believe that interracial dating is acceptable.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pew/20070601/ts_pew/83approveinterracialdating

[Leftist Agitator]

1. It's about time! n/t

[Laughing Mirror]

2. Just out of curiosity I wonder what the percentage was in 1967

When, with Loving vs Virginia, the US Supreme Court struck down anti-miscegenation laws that forbid whites and blacks from marriage.

[David__77]

3. Good, but I think the numbers are a bit deceiving.

A lot of white people won't admit their racial chauvinism. And they're "fine" with it in the abstract, but don't want it in their own family.

[Odin2005]

10. So Freudian-sounding assertions matters more then hard data?

:eyes:

[David__77]

16. We've seen these "hard data" in action before.

For instance, in 1982, polls had African-American candidate Tom Bradley with a large lead in his race for governor of California. He was defeated on election to a white opponent. This was not an an anomoly. When votes were held in two southern states in the past decade to get rid of old unenforced laws against interracial marriage, polls showed landslides victories, but the margins on election day were much closer. Don't rely too much on the utter veracity of such "hard data."

[fishwax]

12. then again, some who wouldn't want it in their own family change once it actually happens

I've seen it happen ... parents who were shocked and unhappy about who their child was dating--but given time (and the catalyst of grandchildren) they evolved, at least a little :)

[DerBeppo]

14. that hidden racism doesn't soley lie with whites.

While I believe the overall conclusions of this poll, I've personally known some black, asian and hispanic families who were very uneasy with the idea of their daughters dating a white guy.

I believe it to be human nature, but not something that is going to better racial relations in this country. It's good that people are becoming more and more tolerant.

[tritsofme]

20. Interesting, this only occurs with white people?

nt

[PassingFair]

25. Agree. I don't think they blind polled any of the white fathers in MY neighborhood.

They'd get MUCH different results.

There are REAL bigots here.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. This reinforces my theory that sometime in the next century or so

most people will look more or less the same as far as skin color and hair color. The blending of nationalities and races will make it next to impossible to tell what a person's ethnicity is. Of course, that just means that some people will find something else to be bigoted about.

[DeSwiss]

23. I remember a "B-side" Tom Jones song....

...from the 60s called "Coffee Colored People All Over The World." Or something like that. He sang it on a program I was watching, it may have been Ed Sullivan. Anyway, I know it didn't do well here.....

[AspenRose]

5. I find it interesting that when people speak of "interracial dating"

It implies black/white...

You hardly hear about black/asian, or asian/white, etc.

Just an observation (from someone in an interracial marriage)....

[SidDithers]

6. 17% of Americans are dumbfucks....nt

Sid

[FrenchieCat]

7. I wonder what that percentage was back in 1958, when I was born

To a White Mother and a Black father?


Guess we lived in France for a reason, hey?

[Colobo]

8. Very encouraging!

[TahitiNut]

9. All I ever cared about was whether SHE did. (Who cares about Dumbfuckistan?)

Inbred cretins. :grr:

[shanti]

18. ???

[Poiuyt]

11. And yet, intergenerational relationships are still frowned upon

There is still a lot of snarkiness on this board about May-December romances. Just look at the comments about Fred Thompson and his younger wife. Age bigotry.

[mudesi]

13. 17% don't?

That is disgusting. :puke:

[bigwillq]

15. And the other 17% are ignorant.

:mad:

[yardwork]

17. Shout out to the young generation! 94% of those born since 1977 say it is all right.

[malaise]

19. I attended a lovely wedding last weekend

here in Jamaica. A childhood friend's daughter, who spent most of her life in England, Kentucky and Atlanta, married a very sweet, intelligent young man from Wisconsin. They met at Georgetown U. This brought together about 200 of us (among them about 60 young Americans) from several states in the US and the rest of the planet and variety of races and ethnicities. The majority of foreigners were from the US. What amazed me was the ease with which they mingled and enjoyed themselves. Some clearly were very good friends - others friends of sibblings and others met for the first time. Everyone of them went to college.

It was lovely watching bridesmaids and groomsmen representing every colour of the rainbow.
The groom's father is white and his mother is Afro-American. They are well traveled, but have lived most of their lives in Wisconsin. Several of his friends came along from home and college.

Everyone arrived mid-week last week and most left yesterday, but I did not find one person supporting Bush, one racist, or one bigot. All these fabulous young people, and those parents who came, wanted was to see Jamaica the way tourists never do. We took them all over the place or arranged for them to get there. They hung out with locals, feasted on local food, Cuban cigars and more than a few found ways to sample Jamaican sensi. I took them on a tour of our campus - some were medical interns or young lawyers, accountants, IT men, social policy graduates, environmental economics graduates, etc. and I had a ball just listening to them. They all want Gore to run and they all are fed up of Bush, Cheney and Gonzalves. They sure gave me hope.

I was amazed at how well they danced to reggae. Of course the West Indians stole that show, but the Americans had a ball leading the way with the Electric Slide.

These young people don't even see race let alone make it an issue. One more thing - they had beautiful manners. I tell you it was a lovely unplanned meeting of three generations of liberals and I feel refreshed after the experience :D Still more than a few of those Wisconsin men and women must be suffering from some serious sunburn today :blush:

[DeSwiss]

24. The wedding and whole experience you described sounds wonderful....

...and one of my best friends wife was from Jamaica. She's now deceased, but she taught me quite a bit about what lovely people most Jamaicans are.

The only issue we could never agree upon was with respect to same-sex relationships. Here, it is my experience with the Jamaicans that I know are in fact bigoted. Most of this influence appears to me to be church-inspired, of course. But from the news reports one reads, it appears to be endemic to much of Jamaican society. So I'll reserve my opinion on the lack of bigotry there for now.

[Ilsa]

21. Ad the other 17% have applied to Liberty or Bob Jones University. nt

[Coexist]

22. the lovely upside of this:

50 years ago, it would have been much lower.

Now, less than half approve of same-sex marriage.

50 years from now...??

Let's hope!

[flaminbats]

26. this converted me..

I was very racist, but I'm no longer proud of this. One of my close cousins married a beautiful black woman. This changed me forever, yet he is happily married and I am not.

race effects how we all judge others, but accepting this and understanding these forms of negative human emotion will make others better in the future. :hug:

[misanthrope]

27. I would love to be asked that question...

...So I could tell the pollster, "It's not any of my business who other people choose to become involved with and I don't much care for the question."

But I guess that approach makes too much sense and doesn't allow for pontification.