It is a common condition for those with no knowledge of self. The virus is spreading rapidly at the University. Beware of its major symptom: An uncontrollable sexual desire for the opposite race.
Are you are drawn to the crowded bars that play tasteless hip-hop music, like Taboo or Tsunami? Do you go to every black student union dance even though nobody invited you? Did you root for “Buck Wild” to win Flava Flav’s heart in every episode of “Flavor of Love”? Do you dream about one day having a beautiful mixed brown baby? If you have any of these symptoms, call your local love doctor. He or she will know what to do.
I’m no love doctor, but I see too many black men or women making bad decisions when they get into unhealthy relationships with white men or women. But don’t get it twisted. Both begin the relationship for the wrong reasons, which are based entirely on false stereotypes. They will say things such as, “I date white women because they are easier than black women,” “I date black men because I want a brown baby,” or “I date white men because they treat me right.” Of course there are some exceptions to the rule; I myself know of a few relationships that work. The overwhelming majority of these relationships start with questionable logic and little thought about the political implications.
The Stevie Wonder classic song “Jungle Fever” sheds some light on the subject. He suggests to disregard race when you’re in love. “She’s gone black boy crazy, I’ve gone white girl hazy, ain’t no think’n maybe, we’re in love.” You might think that I’ve gone crazy because I disagree with Mr. Wonder’s optimistic message. The only thing I do agree with in his clever song is that most people don’t really think before falling in love. Jungle fever spreads mainly because people don’t think about all the racist American stereotypes.
But, realistically, I don’t believe that a black and white couple in America can work.
My initial reaction to any interracial couple holding hands is that “something isn’t right.” I can’t help it, but I have a strange uncontrollable reaction to the sight of an interracial couple when I see one. When the couple is in my sight, my mind justifies it with general stereotypes that attempt to explain reason why the two might be together: “That black guy is just dating around and it must not be serious,” “It’s about time that she got a white man,” or “That white girl is just dating him for the fashion statement.” These are just a few thoughts going through my head.
I do believe that the black and white combination is possible under the right conditions. Meaningful relationships might work in another country where social standards and cultural values are different. In America no interracial couple will survive as long as negative prejudices exist in the general public’s conscience. There is just too much conflict to deal with outside of the relationship, such as the constant onslaught of negative prejudice from your peers and family. America has a violent history caused partially by the fear white men have, which is that black men will take their white women from them. An interracial relationship will be directly or indirectly challenging stereotypes that have a history of violence.
Are you aware of what happened to the 16-year-old black boy Emmett Louis Till in Mississippi? Carolyn Bryant claimed that he had said some unspeakable words to her (flirted), and aggressively asked for a date. Today, though, most people believe that he just whistled at the store clerk. Four nights after the incident, on Aug. 28, 1955, he was kidnapped from his uncle’s house, taken to a shed and beaten unmercifully to his death. The murders also choked him with a barb wire, cut out his eye and ear and shot him with a .45 caliber gun. Before he was thrown into the Tallahatchie River by Carolyn’s husband Roy Bryant and his half brother, they tied his neck to a cotton gin fan so he would sink to the bottom. Both of the white men were acquitted for the murder by 12 white jurors.
To understand this kind of lynch mob mentality better, watch the most popular racist film in American history, “The Birth of a Nation.” The film signifies the powerful racist influences in the American conscience. I’m convinced that some white Americans believe in the movie’s political portrayal of the black man.
The interracial taboo played a role in the midterm elections, and arguably decided the Congressional race in Tennessee. In October, an ad sponsored by the Republican National Committee featured a white girl making a flirtatious advance toward democratic competition. If elected, Harold Ford would have been the first African American Senator elected in the south since reconstruction. At the end of the commercial a blond, white women winks and whispers “Harold, call me.” The ad made an implicit appeal to deep seeded racial fears about black men and white women. The ad is a clear example of how little has changed in America’s race conflict.
In conclusion, I believe that stereotypes in America are so entrenched in our society that I see no way to sustain a true black and white relationship harmoniously.
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