Interracial Relationships and Marriage Racism and Discrimination Mar
Interracial Relationships and Marriage, Racism and Discrimination, Mar... Love & Sex
In the last 30 years, the number of in the U.S. has more than doubled. In 1980, 7 percent of new marriages brought together people from different , reports the Pew Research Center. Today, 15 percent of newlyweds are crossing the racial divide. See also: . Societal attitudes about these unions have also shifted. Today, nearly
two-thirds of Americans say they're fine with people marrying someone of a different race. In 1986, only 28 percent of people agreed with that
statement. Here are the of four couples, married more than 30 years, who
crossed racial, societal and even legal barriers to be the pioneers that
paved the way for today's new way of thinking about interracial marriages.
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Interracial Marriage Then and Now
Together for decades four couples discuss struggles and offer advice
Fred and Ann Jealous Pacific Grove Calif
When friendship turned to something more for Fred and Ann Jealous in 1966, they were afraid to hold hands in public. At the , they entered separately and met in the middle of a darkened row. Marriage between blacks and whites was illegal then in Maryland, where the couple lived, so Ann didn't consider Fred as a potential husband. But then, "a wall fell down," she says. They wed in Washington, D.C., one year before the Supreme Court deemed anti-miscegenation laws illegal in 1967.Fred and Ann Jealous Pacific Grove Calif
Married 45 years By marrying Ann, Fred lost his inheritance. Most of his New England family stopped all contact, appalled that their name would be passed on to a black child. Still, the Jealouses wouldn't let racism cloud how much they had in common: a taste for adventure, a love of education and a commitment to social justice. And their legacy? Their son, Benjamin, a Rhodes scholar, is now president of the NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in the country.Steven and Denise Beumer Casselberry Fla
Steven and Denise were known as a "mixed-up couple" in Detroit in the '70s and '80s. They couldn't get a approved in a white neighborhood until Steve threatened legal action. A neighbor once asked Denise to fill in for her housekeeper, thinking she was the hired help, not a homeowner. "You can be nice to them, son," Steven's mother told him. "But you don't marry them."Steven and Denise Beumer Casselberry Fla
Married 35 years Steven and Denise say that interracial unions like theirs are not for everyone. "You have to be selfish," says Denise. "Steve and I both made a decision to not care about what anyone else thinks."Peter and Jean Lin Saratoga Calif
Peter's mother was skeptical when he and Jean began dating. Chinese people who married outside their race were considered traitors. In their early years, the Lins were treated rudely at a gas station and were ordered out of a picnic area. When Jean traveled with her Chinese family, people sometimes assumed she was a tour guide.Peter and Jean Lin Saratoga Calif
Married 39 years Emotions resurface for Jean and Peter when they see their son, who is , and his partner confront similar prejudice. "They have a much tougher life than we ever did," says Peter. "Same-sex couples right now are the ones facing the biggest obstacles." Jean's and Peter's advice? Keep communicating well. Do not let other people make you feel bad about yourself. "And have a sense of humor about things," says Jean. "That goes a long way."Chris and Minerva Warwin New York
"What you doing with that Aunt Jemima?" Chris Warwin would hear such comments in the 1970s and 1980s when he was with Minerva. But the insults weren't only reserved for her. "Why is sister here with the white devil?" Minerva recalls hearing from a Nation of Islam member on a subway platform.Chris and Minerva Warwin New York
Married 43 years Being an interracial couple does not define the Warwins. "Two people fall in . Why is this news?" says Chris. Their past also taught the Warwins that "you have to step away and realize that your new is going to be where you go," says Chris. "You can't let the old family hold you back."Related
In the last 30 years, the number of in the U.S. has more than doubled. In 1980, 7 percent of new marriages brought together people from different , reports the Pew Research Center. Today, 15 percent of newlyweds are crossing the racial divide. See also: . Societal attitudes about these unions have also shifted. Today, nearly
two-thirds of Americans say they're fine with people marrying someone of a different race. In 1986, only 28 percent of people agreed with that
statement. Here are the of four couples, married more than 30 years, who
crossed racial, societal and even legal barriers to be the pioneers that
paved the way for today's new way of thinking about interracial marriages.
Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures