Temple University can be classified as diversely segregated. Even though it’s one of the most racially diverse universities in the country, students at Temple all seem to notice an unfortunate separation of the many races on campus.
Not everyone abides by this separation, however. In fact, the students’ views on the usually
touchy subject of interracial dating are rather liberal. I say usually because the reactions from an array of Temple students regarding the topic were honest, down-to-earth, and straight up blunt. While everyone was, for the most part, open about the subject, their responses and attitudes towards interracial dating still differed drastically.
Statistics are typically boring, but after interviewing over 20 students around campus, I have one statistic that is societally extraordinary! 11/21 students at Temple have dated outside of their own race. That number is over 50% and dwarfs the rapidly growing national average of 1/7, or about 15% of interracial marriages as of 2008 (as conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau). So is there something in the water at Temple that encourages its students to jump the dating color line? TU’s students have ideas of their own.
African-American sophomore Nikki Guynn has dated outside of her race; a Hispanic. However, she admits that she sees no way or no reason to date a white man.
“I hesitate with white people ‘cause I just don’t know what’s in their head…never…ever.” Guynn said.
A statement like this could be interpreted as a simple cultural barrier, as many Temple students cited as a reason that the idea of interracial dating may lack popularity.
Most people, regardless of race, said they would pursue interracial dating. Whether or not they were just trying to be open-minded around me or not, I’ll never know for sure. What I do know, though, is that the number of black men willing to date or rather marry a woman of another race was startlingly smaller than I’d imagined.
Despite his mother’s biraciality (she is both black and white), bringing home a white woman would be a big “NO,” said freshman Leroy Mapp.
Mapp’s not the only one. Of those interviewed, about half (and the majority of that half were white women) admitted that bringing home a significant other of a different race would be frowned upon due to family tradition.
In fact, “tradition” seems to be the primary reason that interracial dating is taboo in the first place. This same tradition enslaved Africans and killed African-Americans for even befriending someone of the opposite race. It also persecuted whites who wanted racial equality for all.
This is a tradition that spread to all nations around the globe; teaching individuals that dark is bad and light is good. Unfortunately, the stigma from this tradition still stands. Temple’s students willingly attributed it to today’s attitudes toward interracial dating. While these attitudes were acknowledged, they were certainly not necessarily accepted by all.
Coming from a “very, very traditional” Greek family, freshman Maria Maslin admitted that dating outside of her race was completely frowned upon in her family, a common barrier of interracial dating.
Despite her familial values, Maria represents a more liberal ideology that could be found in the majority of student responses.
“We’re all humans. It doesn’t matter.” Maria said, in regard to her choice to date interracially, against her family’s wishes.
The interviewed students unanimously agree that the diversity on campus, even if it doesn’t exactly encourage interracial dating, definitely and completely allows for the opportunity to do so.
“When people don’t understand things, they hate on it.” spoke Maria wisely. And, well apparently, according to TU students, they can keep on hatin’ while we keep on interracially datin’!!!