For something that was illegal in America until it was officially made legal in 1967, and is still making a lot of tongues and heads waggle in our diverse African societies, interracial marriages are certainly becoming more commonplace.
They are basically a marriage between two spouses of different races and this explanation makes it easier to understand why it most often causes such emotional upheaval or shock just by looking at it or discussing it.
Should race matter when love is involved?
Well no, race shouldn’t matter, because it doesn’t matter. As far as love goes, it doesn’t matter. “Race” is just a term used to describe people based on their physical characteristics such as genetics, although the term can be given a stronger meaning by people who hate absorbing others.
So different races would mean different traditions and cultures. Interracial marriage can mean a determination to uproot a life from one place to another. While internet connectivity, social media, and dating apps make it easy to meet and date people from all over the world, some relatives who are new to these marriages need to know that those involved face great challenges even before they enter with the decision to marry interracially.
What do interracial marriages mean for Africa, though? This type of marriage certainly shows that we are more open and less concerned about the boundaries of centuries-old traditions, but is that a good thing? One of the most important reasons why an African still enters the institution of marriage is the opportunity to father and raise children in a conducive home atmosphere.
However, with interracial marriages, moving a child in a cultural direction is more difficult. What happens, however, is a mix of beliefs and traditions that can leave the child drifting in the world, unsure of where to actually call home. Also, childhood in a multiracial home appears to be more complicated than in a home with same-racial children. And where parents are separated, children get a bad picture of one race or the other, because if a former spouse is terrible, the entire race is bad. As true as all of this may be, it must also be noted that there are children born into families with parents who are not only of the same race but also of the same tribe, and yet have worse experiences,
This would show if in any way interracial marriages have nothing to do with our culture or our homeland, it is not the institution’s fault, but rather the blame can be placed on the negligence of failing to educate the child appropriately. It is up to us, regardless of the circumstances, to pass on our people’s culture and values to our children. This can be done in simple ways: we speak our mother tongue more often with our communities, we buy books that present a flattering and fair picture of African culture, and we value our own history.
Interracial marriages rarely, if ever, kill our culture, they offer us a unique opportunity to cover the world with our culture and show off the best parts of Africa.
Biracial marriage has also been blamed for children feeling strange in the fog of their ages; probably the subtle signals of some people constantly reminding such children that they look different from the others. This should not spoil the dreams of a future multi-ethnic couple, as it is also our duty to teach our children that their appearance does not distinguish them from the next person. Knowing this makes them comfortable with any person, regardless of their looks or race, without feeling inferior or under the yoke.
Our recommendations.
If you are in love with someone from a different race and want to come to terms with that person, consider discussing the following with your partner:
How you can help your descendants to deal with prejudice
How both of you can withstand the pressures that come from your family or community.
How do I deal with random questions from racists?
Once you can both answer these questions and have a family that is receptive to your relationship, you’re certainly good to go.