Discrimination against Interracial Marriage

1. Discrimination against Interracial Marriage Social Issue Research Project ETHS 2410 By: Maslin Burrup

2. My Social Issue • I found this social issue important because 87% of Americans claim to be accepting on interracial marriage, yet there is still so much discrimination in the world today. • I completed a media journal full of articles, and advertisements that represented discrimination against interracial couples. • I watched Guess Who, a movie about an interracial couple and What Would You Do, a documentary. • I attended an actual interracial marriage take place for my out of class activity.

3. Scholarly Articles Article One: Bill De Blasio’s Interracial Marriage Shatters Traditional Ideas of Race and Politics This article talks about the first politician to be elected into office, while involved in an interracial relationship. It reviews the history of other politicians involved interracial relationships, and how they never lead to marriage in fear that it would be detrimental to their career. The article taught me how much hatred there was towards interracial marriages, and how uncommon they were in the world. It was still such a “no no” thing that people did not want to acknowledge. It helped me towards my intervention by acknowledging how awful it was for people to avoid their potential relationships and family because they were worried that it would affect their career. I wanted to help switch that attitude but helping people become more accepting.

4. Scholarly Article Article 2: 13% Of Americans Still Do Not Approve of Interracial Marriage This article talked about how Americans claim to be accepting of interracial marriage, yet the number is not 100% acceptance yet. This article taught me about the approval rate across America and how it has changed over the years. I also learned how there are more single African American females in the world compared to any other single person. I want to promote healthy marriages, I want to reduce the amount of single women in the world. Through my intervention I also want to raise awareness on how much discrimination there is against interracial marriages in the world today, even after we claim to be accepting.

5. Scholarly Article Article 3:Interracial marriages in the U.S. hits all-time high – 4.8 million This article was about the increase of interracial marriages across America. The article also discussed how younger generations, and other cultures are more accepting of interracial marriages. I learned through reading this article that there are more and more interracial marriages across America today, but there is still no acceptance. Women struggle more than men in interracial marriage acceptance. This helped me towards my intervention because I want to help single women across the world become more accepted. I also want to raise awareness about how a marriage is a marriage, and the color of the persons skin should have no influence on a marriage.

6. Intervention • My intervention is to create a social group that can gather together to work through the discrimination issues, and then have a workshop where people can gather to learn more about interracial marriages. • The whole community is invited to participate. There will be people involved in interracial marriages, and people who have questions regarding interracial marriages. • The goal is to raise awareness about how much interracial marriage couples receive discrimination and how their marriage is just the same as anyone else. • The total cost should only be around $1500.

7. Resistance to my Intervention • People who are completely against interracial marriage, and have no acceptance is where we are going to find the most resistance. They may not be happy that we are promoting interracial marriage within their community. • The elderly, who grew up in a time of segregation will probably resist. • Some interracial couples may resist as well, in fear that they are being set up for more discrimination. • We are going to encourage everyone to attend, and become familiar with interracial marriage. We will remind everyone that you do not have to attend the workshop, but that we are only there to promote happy marriages and less discrimination. There will be security onsite to promote a safe environment.

8. Support for my Intervention • I think there will be support from most people within the community. • There will be support from interracial couples. • There will be support from people who are accepting of interracial marriage, and who want to help put a stop to the discrimination. My friend April is involved in an interracial marriage. I discussed my intervention with her and she fully supports the idea. She is going to help gather some friends, and spread the word of the support group and help me unite everyone together.

9. Impact of my Intervention • I hope that my support group will be a healthy place for people to meet and vent about the discrimination they may experience. It will be a place where people can give advice and help others who might not understand and be as accepting of interracial marriage. • I think the workshop will raise awareness about how common interracial marriage is across America today. I want people to understand how much these couples go through, just to have a happy marriage. I hope that through my intervention there will be less discrimination against interracial marriage in my community.

10. References • Cadet, Danielle. "Bill De Blasio's Interracial Marriage Shatters Traditional Ideas Of Race And Politics." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Nov. 2013. Web. • "13% Of Americans Still Do Not Approve Of Interracial Marriage." PolicyMic. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. • "Interracial Marriages in the U.S. Hit All-time High 4.8 Million." NY Daily News. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

11. What Would You Do?