When my roommate and I read Ty Schwoeffermann’s opinion piece (“Watch out for ‘Jungle Fever,’” ODE Nov. 15), which discusses interracial dating, we were shocked. His article sees things from a purely black-white perspective, which disregards many other interracial relationships. He also creates more negative stereotypes and uses little, if any, strong evidence. Schwoeffermann is seemingly more interested in identifying why interracial, specifically black-white relationships, are not possible instead of supporting them.
The column caused us to think about a 1963 Bob Dylan song, “Times They Are A-Changin’.” Bob isn’t Stevie Wonder but both artists sing about social change and ideas toward which we should all strive. Similarly to Dylan, we see problems throughout our world and hope for progress. We learn everyday from watching events play out in the world that progress does not come from talking big. Social change does not evolve from “hope,” it emerges as those who are brave enough to take action. Schwoeffermann claims, “I see too many black men or women making bad decisions when they get into unhealthy relationships with white men or women.” Schwoeffermann goes onto state that the “black and white combination is possible under the right conditions.” But if this is so, shouldn’t we be focusing on creating the “right conditions” instead of producing an environment where they cannot flourish?
Schwoeffermann writes that the U.S. cannot support interracial dating because of a history of violence, yet Schwoefferman does not attempt to create a more conducive environment. In fact, he does not even suggest any attempt at doing so. Instead he writes using stereotypes and consequently feeds an environment that does not try to support interracial relationships. He writes that interracial relationships begin because black men think white women are “easier” or that white women date black men because they want a “brown baby.” We were not aware that these are common reasons why one would begin an interracial relationship. Thought processes like Schwoeffermann’s pull our society in the wrong direction, resulting in nothing more than social regression.
Schwoeffermann uses “The Birth of a Nation” and Emmett Till’s lynching as support for how America has a racist history. Yes, many Americans were racist in the early ’50s and earlier. Indeed there are still many people who judge others by skin color rather than personality and intellect even today. However, trying to relate an event and a movie that happened 50 years ago to the present day has no bearing.
We create positive environments by not creating more stereotypes like Schwoefferman does in his article.
Josey Bartlett and Susie Greenebaum
University students