# Why is it more common to see black male/white female couples than white male/black female on TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2018, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106 "2018-03-06T09:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/1 "2018-03-06T09:51:38Z")
I see more white male/every other race female EXCEPT I rarely see white male/black female, there it’s overwhelmingly black male/white female. Is it actually more common in real life or do they do that because it’s considered more provocative? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/2 "2018-03-06T10:42:33Z")
This should be in Cafe Society. Second, I am not sure that what you are asserting is true. I am not saying it isn’t - I am saying I would suspect there is data on this and it would matter. You are suggesting some forms of stereotype are being played out. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/3 "2018-03-06T13:01:49Z")
I don’t think it’s especially rare. But if it were, probably it’s because only a few years ago the opposite – black-guy-white-woman – was still taboo, or at least noteworthy ([example1](http://yourblackworld.net/2013/12/02/hollywood-has-black-women-with-white-men-but-why-arent-men-placed-with-women/), [example2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/focus/will-smith-margot-robbie-interracial-movie-couples/)). So it may be a temporary rebalancing thing you’re seeing. Though, as I say, I haven’t noticed any such skew personally. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/4 "2018-03-06T13:15:25Z")
Where I live black-male-white-female is probably the most common interracial pairing but it’s not _that_ significant a skew. And I can’t speak for what the OP is seeing on television and whether there is a genuine skew there or some confirmation bias going on. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/5 "2018-03-06T13:36:52Z")
The OP’s observation seems correct; however there are at least two national ad campaigns running now (for a company delivering meal boxes, and for an anti-bipolar disorder drug) that feature a white male/black female couple. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/6 "2018-03-06T13:59:03Z")
As I recall, the Jeffersons had a neighbor couple that was WMBF and that was one of the earliest interracial couples on television. Not that I pay a ton of attention, but interracial couples that I have seen out and about have been largely BMWF. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/7 "2018-03-06T14:05:15Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I see more white male/every other race female EXCEPT I rarely see white male/black female, there it’s overwhelmingly black male/white female. > > Is it actually more common in real life or do they do that because it’s considered more provocative? It’s reflective of real life. Per Wiki: > [@](#): > > according to the United States Census Bureau, there were 354,000 White female/Black male and 196,000 Black female/White male marriages in March 2009, representing a ratio of 181:100. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/8 "2018-03-06T14:24:38Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > It’s reflective of real life. Per Wiki: The OP said “overwhelming preponderance”. A ratio of 1.8 to 1 isn’t “overwhelming”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/9 "2018-03-06T14:34:22Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > A ratio of 1.8 to 1 isn’t “overwhelming”. Eh, “overwhelming” is subjective, math is real. Getting hung up on adjectives is silly and depends on how easily one is whelmed. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/10 "2018-03-06T14:40:51Z")
Just in the last few years I have seen a large increase in Southern California of white male black female couples. I have dated quite a few black females but none of them were born in America. I think President Obama and several other sports and TV personalities have had an impact on the black culture in this country were we are seeing more and more blacks better adapting to a mainstream culture, language etc. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/11 "2018-03-06T15:04:42Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The OP’s observation seems correct; however there are at least two national ad campaigns running now (for a company delivering meal boxes, and for an anti-bipolar disorder drug) that feature a white male/black female couple. There was also the Cheerios family from a few years ago. [Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRoe2-Tx6hQ) [Part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qkJHgkUzDA) ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/12 "2018-03-06T15:06:40Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Just in the last few years I have seen a large increase in Southern California of white male black female couples. I have dated quite a few black females but none of them were born in America. I think President Obama and several other sports and TV personalities have had an impact on the black culture in this country were we are seeing more and more blacks better adapting to a mainstream culture, language etc. Your last sentence reads like a very odd non-sequitur to me. Can you elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/13 "2018-03-06T15:14:44Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I think President Obama and several other sports and TV personalities have had an impact on the black culture in this country were we are seeing more and more blacks better adapting to a mainstream culture, language etc. What the fuck? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/14 "2018-03-06T15:24:17Z")
Its changing on TV. Ten years I would have said BMWF was most with a few exceptions but now, especially in commercials, I’m seeing almost a 50/50 split. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/15 "2018-03-06T15:42:24Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I think President Obama and several other sports and TV personalities have had an impact on the black culture in this country were we are seeing more and more blacks better adapting to a mainstream culture, language etc. Yes, after hundreds of years a handful of strong black men have finally pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, teaching the rest of the blacks how to adapt to the mainstream. I can’t believe it took this long for someone truly exceptional to show them the way! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/16 "2018-03-06T16:03:50Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Yes, after hundreds of years a handful of strong black men have finally pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, teaching the rest of the blacks how to adapt to the mainstream. I can’t believe it took this long for someone truly exceptional to show them the way! > > :rolleyes: But think about it: If the trend continues, in a few decades black people might be almost as good as white people! ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/17 "2018-03-06T16:24:49Z")
This article claims that it’s actually more common on American TV to see white male/black female couples than black male/white female couples, even though in real life it’s more common the other way around (by 1.81 to 1, as stated in a previous post): > **[Go to Commercial: Viewer Backlash Over a Mixed Race Family](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/intersections/201411/go-commercial-viewer-backlash-over-mixed-race-family)** > > Reactions to ads show a specific resistance to black male-white female couples. The writer doesn’t give any statistics on it though. Here’s an article where the author actually tries to do some statistics: > **[When White Men Love Black Women on TV](https://tressiemc.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/when-white-men-love-black-women-on-tv/)** > > With Olivia and Fitz and Annalise and Sam it has been noted that there’s a mainstream pop culture revolution happening in the representation of white men in relationships with black women. Ha… The author looked at all American TV series which were in the top 20 ratings between 1994 and 2014 and found that there were 5 BM/WF couples and 5 WM/BF couples in those series. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/18 "2018-03-06T16:33:18Z")
I don’t tend to notice the racial makeup of TV couples, probably because I don’t pay close attention to commercials. I don’t know how many times I saw the Cheerios commercial (Weeks? Months?) before I noticed the family was interracial. The first thing that came to my mind when I read the thread title is a current Alexa (or something) commercial with a rather hot mom and a White dad. . ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/19 "2018-03-06T17:06:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There was also the Cheerios family from a few years ago. > [Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRoe2-Tx6hQ) > [Part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qkJHgkUzDA) I gotta say, that little girl is quite adorable. So cute! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106/20 "2018-03-06T17:08:28Z")
IMO more lopsided than the white/black interracial couple mix is the White/Asian mix. Lots and lots of white guys involved with Asian women; not nearly so many white women involved with Asian men. Either depicted on TV or IRL. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-more-common-to-see-black-male-white-female-couples-than-white-male-black-female-on-tv/810106.md?page=2)