Interesting point. I thought that up until the advent of the passenger ship and the colonial era, people from different races hardly mixed at all. Africa was inhabitted almost entirely by black people. Europe was inhabitted almost exclusively by whites. Indians inhabitted the plains of the USA… etc etc. Even now, there are some places in the world where it is almost exclusively one race (think Japan and China).
I think some parents are dismayed because it’s extra work. I’ve never gotten any flack from my people about dating black, but there are some black women who feel like we should leave their men alone. It’s pretty complicated, and I wouldn’t call any of those women racist.
Whenever a famous person marries outside their race, a lot of people, on both sides, feel free to comment.
To be honest I’d just be leery of the guy dating my daughter. It wouldn’t matter what color or hell nationality the guy was (or if my daughter swung that way-woman was).
I’d be more interested in where the person who was dating my daughter was at that point in life then on their race.
Then again…no one would ever be good enough for my daughter…
The only thing that would worry me would be the reaction of my extended family-all pretty damn racist. I would fear that they might treat this person poorly.
Other than that, no big deal.
I have been in more than one interracial relationship and am a better man for it. They open your eyes to the insidious bigotry that is still so common in America. They can also open your mind to new ways of thinking about other cultures. I would never have learned some of my favorite recipes had I not dated outside of my race.
Being only 17 and certainly not a parent, I can’t comment directly on that aspect of the question. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure I’d be okay with it, considering that at one point or another I’ve been involved to varying degrees with a black girl, a Chinese girl, and a desi girl (I’m white).
Basically, I find it closed-minded to limit oneself to any particular ethnicity, one’s own or otherwise. For instance, I’ve a (white) friend who pays little, if any, attention to anyone but Asian girls, particularly Japanese girls (surprisingly enough, he also watches a ton of anime :rolleyes: ). His reasoning may be different from that of somebody who won’t date outside of his own ethnicity, but it’s still quite silly.
I’m a white 21 year old and have never had a girlfriend but I think if I were to bring a black girl home, that I’d be disowned by some of my family. My mom would be shocked by it but probably bear it well enough… the same with my stepdad despite his having mixed nieces and nephews.
On the other side of the family (my dad, his wife, their families) is where I think I would have the biggest problems. I seriously believe my stepmom would have an aneurysm and that most everyone else would be pretty upset by it too. I can’t say I’m proud of it but they’re my family and I do love them regardless. If push ever came to shove though… screw them. It’s my love life.
I think the same would happen with a latina (depending on how “ethnic” she is) but they’d be fine with an Asian girl, I believe.
First, I’m “interracial”, so I’m probably biased in favor of the concept. Second, I have several other relatives in “interracial” marriages already, and this causes me no problems. In short, I guess I’d have to say that it’s a non-issue for me. Mind you, I know people who think that “mixed marriage” would be a Greek with a “Xenoi”…
how “ethnic” she is? what the hell does that mean??
I never thought of it before, but if I had a daughter, I don’t know what would be considered interracial. I’m pretty much of English descent and 1/4 Italian, but myhusband is 1/4 black, 1/4 Piute, 1/4 Mexican, and 1/4 White. I guess it would make the kid half white, and half everything else. So I guess either way, I couldn’t be too upset if they brought home a young black man, or a young white man.
You parenthesised the wrong bit.
OP - I would be taken aback, but would not be horrified or against it, It would certainly be a surprise but not a bad one.
And not long after would come the relief/realization that my son/daughter is probably not prejudiced.
I’ve only gone on one date with a black guy, and I wanted to date a Mexican guy I met, but my parents thought the age difference was too extreme (I was still in high school (16 or 17) and he was about 20, I think), so obviously I have no problems with it. When my sister told my parents she was dating a black guy, I think they were very mildly upset, but they’d always taught us to look past race, so they never said anything. My sister ended up marrying a Mexican-American man, and my parents like him a lot and adore their granddaughter.
Bah. Can’t see a problem at all.
Now, if the boy or girl wasn’t CATHOLIC, and the relationship was serious… 
It is so hard to find real love that race hardly seems relevant to me. We have raised our children with this in mind. This has not been an easy task as we live in B’ham, Alabama. Alot of outside negative influences. Our 19 yr old son came home all excited about a black girl he had met. Our only questions were is she nice and to inquire about her education/goals. The relationship never went very far as her parents had a fit! sigh I just always thought that our generation was going to make a difference in the way people preceived each other. We make a very pointed effort to raise our children not be racist and then when they bring someone of a different race home, all hell breaks loose. I just don’t get it.
Heh. One of my dad’s girlfriends was Japanese and my late grandfather had kittens, apparently. And my mom is part-Korean (looked much more Asian when she was younger) - although somewhat more importantly for the “cultural differences” point of view, she’s American and my dad is Canadian 
Anyway, the point is despite Grandpa’s issues, Mom and Dad have been together for going on 24 years now. I think all that matters is that everybody involved understand, or at least be able to live with, each other and that the couple be able to mediate some kind of balance among their families - something that’s true for every relationship
Just a quick story about friends: when a lesbian friend of mine came out to her parents, they were mildly horrified, but got used to the idea. I wouldn’t say they went as far as “acceptance”, I think it was more tolerance (in the true sense of the word.) When the lesbian friend’s brother married an Italian woman, the father went nuts. He said to his daughter, “At least you had the sense to marry a WHITE woman.”
My daughter is just starting to think about interpersonal relationships, so to speak. Her “boyfriend” is Caucasian, as is she. However, I notice that she is very close friends with a number of boys of other races (girls too) so I would guess it’s at least reasonably likely that she and her friends may wish to date someone of a differing racial background. Since these children have almost all been guests in our home and proved themselves to be nice young people, I would not have a problem once real dating begins if my daughter ended up dating or marrying any of them. I’m not real sure how much of our extended family would react, but I’m at least certain of a good handful that I know wouldn’t take issue with it.
I do think though that a great deal would depend on the boy’s parents’ feelings, too. I’d prefer if we were all in agreement that everything was cool.
I’m Jewish and am about to marry a wonderful Chinese woman. My younger brother is happily married to a Haitian woman. My older brother is married to a Utah Mormon.
I have no problem whatsoever with interracial relationships.
Barry
The guy I’m sortakindamaybemostlydating (long story) is of Chinese ancestry. Ain’t had a problem with it yet, and when my parents find out ( ) I’m confident they won’t either.
My husband is korean (born & raised) and I am polish (born & partially raised).
My family here was more concerned about his age and financial status than his nationality, except for my mom, who is a big ol’ feminist, and questioned the treatment of females in asian marriages.
His parents don’t have a problem with me, especially cause they’re very catholic and the king of catholics is polish. As far as I know, they have nothing against me.
However, If I were a white guy and I was dating their daughter, I suspect there would be more of a problem.
I am Caucasian, hubby is Guyanese-American…and the middle son? He has a thing for Chinese girls ever since he saw Mulan. He keep saying he’s going to move to China and marry a Chinese girl. I say, 'Go for it!"
No problems whatsoever here!
FaerieBeth