Lauren Johnson Mr.

Newman Rhetoric: English 101 8 November 2013 Title With an African-American president and fourteen states that have passed the same-sex marriage bill, it is no doubt that America is becoming increasingly tolerant with the different backgrounds and beliefs of others, however interracial couples still seems to be a grey area. Although many maintain the idea that our tolerant society has reached a point that we can overlook the differences of others enough that when we find the one we love, we can look farther than race, but this tolerance tends to hit the fan when relationships are created between people who have different racial backgrounds. With many individuals of our society being young and easily assimilating to the changes of our culture, the conflict arises from the intolerant elders of our society who oppose the idea of races intermingling with each other, making it difficult for society to reach a point of racial equality. From the beginning of our youth, we have all had tastes of the kinds people we want in life whether they are much like us or they greatly differ from us. Elder generations influence our tastes by explaining their views on others, raising us from a young age to become more selective in who we choose. However, younger generations have abandoned this trend and have started to mingle with people of different racial backgrounds, creating the larger demographic of mixed background individuals. As modern-day society continues to make advances in the treatment of

gender, racial backgrounds, and sexual orientation, the people we choose to become a part of our lives begins to be vaster as we are able to look past their differences. As society faces changes within our culture, the younger generations have become accustomed to the mixed breeds of people coming from all different backgrounds. In years past, interracial marriages were typically looked down upon and in some cases illegal, like in 1965 in South Carolina as noted by Heidi M. Durrow, coming from a Danish immigrant mother and an African-American father, Durrow says, Census figures show that interracial marriages are at an all-time high, and the multiracial population is the countrys fastest-growing demographic. More people are becoming intrigued with people who are not like them, creating races much like Durrow. Also holding the same position as Durrow, Kevin Noble Maillard offers his mentality on interracial relationships saying that, Interracial relationships are scandalous because people still believe them to be rare, even when we are all surrounded by them. . .In all reality, mixed race is an entirely American story, but we still see it as mission impossible. Many people over sexualize the interracial relationship shunning people to think that they are with someone for ulterior motives, however, In contrast, others hold the position that racial equality cannot be reached as race is always going to play a key role in the relationships of society. Diane Farr claims, Lets blame it on the parents. Love is the last area where even educated and progressive parents can still openly teach prejudice at homewhich is the only reason interracial marriage is still scandalous. Most us have been brought up being taught that we should stay with our race when find someone that we love because this mentality has been passed down from our parents from their parents. Even though this generation has become more acceptable to the differences of others, racial prejudice still exists because some are afraid to branch away from their race because they fear being

disowned by their family and friends. But we do see the brink of racial equality on the horizon as parents begin to understand the trends of the new age, as Farr states, This leads me to believe that interracial prejudice can be eradicated in one more generationif todays parents stop teaching it to our little ones, in subtle or unsubtle ways.