The history of interracial dating

When we talk about interracial relationships, most articles overlook the history of interracial dating. Looking back, I don’t think it was easy to find your interracial other half as it is now. The internet has really made things pretty easy.

For years, friendship love and attraction has been the bridge that connects the human race. Looking at colonialism, for instance, that where interracial love was more likely to happen.

Non-white women who were slaves were used sexually by their masters. But we can’t rule out the fact that some interracial relationships were based on love. However, those days, there were laws in place that prohibited the mixing of race - anti-miscegenation laws. Not all states had these laws. Some were OK with interracial marriages.

Some people chose to stand up for love and went against these laws. Going by the history of interracial dating, we see couples like Mildred (black) and Richard Loving (white) who always pop up. They became famous when they decided to sue the state of Virginia in the Supreme Court case of Loving vs. Virginia.

Interracial couples in history

1. 1. Cleopatra and Antony


Now, we have Cleopatra, an Egyptian queen and Mark Antony, a Roman general. These two were in very powerful positions. Much as their interracial love didn’t end well, they committed suicide, it wasn’t because of the stresses of being in a mixed relationship. Like the Romeo and Juliet story, both thought the other one was dead. They were so in love with one another until the very end.

2. 2. Sir Seretse Karma and Ruth Williams

There’s was a love that spurred a diplomatic crisis. Ruth was English and Seretse was from Botswana, Africa. Seretse had gone to Oxford University to study law. And their love for jazz is what brought these two individuals from worlds apart. They met at a dance.

These two fell in love and got married.

Both families opposed their union from the get-go. Seretse’s uncle asked him to leave his wife or leave Botswana. They got exiled. This begins to show you how rough things were for interracial couples. Now, apparently, some British big shot even stormed in Ruth’s office telling her that their relationship was going to bring down the British kingdom.

There was also beef in South Africa, a country neighboring Botswana. They weren’t taking that union lying down. They didn’t want to be seen as the country condoning a marriage between a Black African and a British woman. They had to get married in secret because the officiator of their marriage was banned from doing so. Their marriage was opposed by Botswana elders!

Eventually, against all odds, Ruth was crowned queen and Seretse king. Now, the South African prime minister called their union nauseating. Seretse had to relinquish his rights to the throne but luckily he got elected as president! And now we have a movie, “A United Kingdom” about them! How about that?

3. 3. The Lovings


Yep! Mildred and Richard did it for us. These two got incarcerated. Then they figured, why not sue the state! They did I al for love. And with it came the Supreme court ruling that made interracial marriages legal.

These two had it rough. This couple deserves all the props they can get. Their marriage wasn’t recognized back home in Virginia. Supreme court! Dang!

1967 is the year. And the court ruled in their favor. So the court used the bible to trash them! That failed. And because of the Lovings, most states trashed the anti-miscegenation laws.

Just like the Seretses, there is a movie, The Loving Film in their favor.

Conclusion

Looking at the history of interracial dating there is so much to celebrate. Today we had Iman and David Bowie. They were together for years till the husband succumbed to cancer. There is Dr. Dre and his wife Nicole young. We have Robert De Niro and the wife Grace Hightower. We got Star Wars' George Lucas and Mellody Hobson. The list is endless. And they are happily married.

Today, the internet and interracial dating sites are making it all possible. People have the freedom to date and marry whoever they want. The possibilities are endless. All you need is just a smartphone and you are good to go.

Imagine you are in the U.S, talking to someone in Africa! Isn't that just amazing?