Book on Interracial Marriage Continues to Confound

Image via Wikipedia. Ralph Richard Banks, author of the book that's pretty much accepted knowledge, but sistas seem to be in disagreement with, regardless. Is he wrong to ask black women to be more open-minded? What if this cat were white/caucasian?

Stanford law professor Ralph Richard Banks‘ book advocating interracial marriage, Is Marriage for White People?: How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone, unsurprisingly continues to stir up much-needed (albeit superficial and ultimately pointless) debate.

Rather than causing any kind of cultural mass discussions (such as a serious roundtable discussion hosted by someone like Tavis Smiley or Dr. Cornel West), we have an infinite number of bloggers (present company excluded) refusing to read the book (http://www.urbanfaith.com/2011/09/the-intermarriage-solution.html/), debating the book’s legitimacy or perspective (http://www.collegeadmission.com/elect/app/app?service=external/Forum&sp=35999), feeling besieged (http://www.blackvoicenews.com/news/news-wire/46823-successful-black-marriages-besieged-on-all-sides-say-advocates.html), resentful (http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/20/3156218/black-women-and-the-angst-over.html); all of them pretty much gauging an already-sore eye in the face of the blatant fact that black women continue to strive forward with a mathematically diminishing return “on investment” so to speak.

This is not to deny in any way the effects of institutionalized racism in American culture, which is as much a part of America (at this point) as iconic imagery of Uncle Sam and the proverbial apple pie; but to debate the clear disparity in marriage equality and marriage pools available while the problem continues along its course unabated…seems, well, saddening and unnecessary and devoid of simple reason.

Obviously, an online magazine called Interrace is not going to be against interracial marriage or dating; so we stand in favor of it. But we’re also in favor of equality across the board. So, if it’s alright for virtually every other ethnic/racial group to intermarry, why is this an issue for black women? Or is it not an issue at all? If we go by the general majority of reactions to Ralph Richard Banks’ little ditty, black women ain’t havin’ no cream in their coffee, whether the cream likes to coffee or not.

The disparities and scenarios the author presents seem fairly sound and recognized, and the ultimate situation is pretty much agreed upon; so why does there appear to be a general rejection or surprise over the book and the author’s conclusion?

Related articles:

• Which Ethnic Groups are Most Accepting of Interracial Marriages? (interrace.wordpress.com)
• Interracial Data Tables (interrace.wordpress.com)
• Americans Still Opposed To Your Hypothetical Gay Wedding, Interracial Marriage (queerty.com)
• Record Support For Interracial Marriage In The US (lezgetreal.com)
• Is it proven that interracial marriage benefits children (wiki.answers.com)
• Is Interracial Marriage The Solution For Unwed Black Women?! (interrace.wordpress.com)
• Do Americans unanimously support interracial marriage? (thegrio.com)
• Debate from the Council on Contemporary Families: Scholars Respond to a Marriage Proposal Regarding Interracial Marriage and African-American Women (prnewswire.com)
• Overview of “Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone” (volokh.com)
• Interracial Marriages: Success or Bust? (interrace.wordpress.com)
• Putting Gay Marriage To Popular Vote Is A Terrible Idea. Just Ask Interracial Couples (queerty.com)