USA Today Claims Black Women Are “Dating Out”

August 7, 2007     Posted in Buzz, News

interracial couple “In 2004, 26.5% of black males ages 18 to 24 were enrolled in college versus 36.5% of black women that age, according to the American Council on Education’s most recent statistics”.


By Jess

Which is one of the reasons why black women are dating more white men then ever before, USA Today claims.

The hot button article appeared last Sunday, stating, among other things, that “American black women are among the least likely to marry”. The reason for this low marriage rate? The negative statistics aimed at young black men.

According to the article, recent numbers have shown that black men are “seven times more likely to be incarcerated than white men and more than twice as likely to be unemployed.”

Combine those figures with a growing number of black women frustrated with the ‘high rates of successful black men choosing blondes”, and you’ve got women ready for a change.

“I think a lot of black women are realizing or feeling that the pickings are slim,” one such women is quoted as saying in the article, while another one claims she witnessed “All the black men literally [pushing] (us) out the way to talk to the blondes” at a party she once attended.

The article goes on to interview a few other women, as well as give the opposite opinion a voice, but what it never does is comment on how baffling and negative the story really is.

To offhandedly suggest that black men are so bad that black women are turning to a different race to find love is an incredibly weighty assumption. Promoting interracial dating and marriage is one thing, but implying that it’s happening because one male race is outdoing another socially (or choosing a mate based on retro “whiteness = success” thinking) is an entirely different contention—one that deserves much more thought and research than a page or two in a news magazine.

13 Comments on "USA Today Claims Black Women Are “Dating Out”"

  1. Carmin Wharton says:
    Wed, 8th Aug 200711:38 am 

    I am a Black woman with many years of dating/relationship experience and I am the author of a recently released relationship memoir. I have also dated a White man and currently a White man is one of my closest platonic male friends. Therefore, I feel a bit more equipped to shed light on this matter.

    One should choose to spend time with, befriend and date people with whom they share things in common – regardless of the color of the person’s skin. Period.

    Just because a Black woman chooses to date or marry a White man does not mean she does not find Black men desirable, are pissed off at Black men, have given up on Black men or any other negative reason. It could and ideally should mean that destiny put her and this man, who happens to be White or of another race, on each other’s path and they were smart enough to recognize their soulmate.

    The article stated that historically Black women have been more loyal to dating within the Black race than have Black men. I believe this to be true but I don’t know why. Thankfully Black women are waking up to realize that because of various biological reasons (one being more baby girls than baby boys are born everyday) and societal reasons (the inordinately high number of imprisoned Black men, gay Black men, etc.), if they don’t intend to spend many a Saturday night alone or with girlfriends, or never marry, they’d darn well better consider dating men of other races.

    I offer two cautions to Black women in this respect:

    1. Do not, I repeat, do not date a White man or man of any other race because you are pissed off at Black men. This is unfair to the man you are dating. People want to know they are in your life because you genuinely want them there – not because you don’t want somebody else there.

    2. Be prepared for societal backlash from family, friends and the public. And I’m not just talking about Black people either. Interestingly when I dated a White man and when I’m with my White male platonic friend, the nastiest stares come from White women. I find this odd but being a woman I suppose it’s because both of these guys are VERY attractive, well-built men. Don’t know and don’t care. I certainly do not bat an eye, cringe or care about Black men who date White woman.

    The color of a person’s skin is not indicative of what’s in them. Nough said.

    Carmin Wharton, The Relationship Teacher

    Author, “Lessons Learned: While Looking for Love in All the Wrong Faces”

    http://www.carminwharton.com

  2. tony says:
    Tue, 21st Aug 200712:36 am 

    why is that black women and white men always the only thing i see on the tv screen. the media will never show it the other way around

  3. sof says:
    Wed, 22nd Aug 200711:08 pm 

    hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  4. BlackTantraGoddess says:
    Mon, 27th Aug 200711:05 am 

    I am a black woman engaged to a white man. I also have a You Tube space dedicated to Black Women's Interracial Love & Sexuality. I am a natural black woman, afro and medium tone skin. I love my blackness, and often have brothas and sistas angry and talkin about I have self hate. This is not about self-hate, its about love and attention. Sistas should not be afraid to love or be love by a man of a different race or nationality, if love should come to them that way. We have to get beyond the old wise tales and past/present racism, and choose love.

    Some of us have a strong attention to other men, and we should not feel gulity about that draw. We as black people need to stop hating on our people about interracial relationships, and be honest that its really about the feels of abandonment and self-esteem. As a black woman with an afro and medium skin tone, with two masters degrees and a business, it is just easier to date/marriage other men. If I was looking for a black man I would be single or mansharing!

  5. BlackTantraGoddess says:
    Mon, 27th Aug 200711:20 am 

    Please come and visit my page at:
    http://www.youtube.com/blacktantragoddess

    I met my finace in college in San Francisco. Most of my black gf's all had at least one interracial relationship, some of them are married and others have kids from those relationships. We did not have black men asking us out, it was white, Asian and Latino men taking out for activities, dates and romance. I just graduated last year with my second masters. I have more non-black men taking an interest in me. So, this is why, I'm in an interracial relationship. We sistas in our 20's and 30's are no longer going to be a lone, we have needs too. And a good man is a good man, no matter what color or nationality he comes in!

  6. Mee Mee says:
    Tue, 28th Aug 20079:34 am 

    I am dating a white (Italian) man. I LOVE black men, that has never been an issue. It just happened that we met and became friends. I enjoy him and he enjoys me. I have discovered that we are both kind of racist in our own right.

    Most of ny family aren't aware of what I am doing. Not because I'm ashamed but because if it doesn't work out I don't have to hear it.

    So far … so good. I adore this man and I have no problems getting to know him further. I'm sure I'll hear about it though. I have thick skin and can hold my own.

    He's a wonderful man and it no longer matters to me that he's light skinned. it matters that he has integrity and can make me laugh at the end of the day.

  7. DARUIS VIEKU says:
    Sat, 1st Sep 20074:59 am 

    i am a man of 23 handsome tall .i live in lebeanon halfcast .i seek a caring ,beautifully educated ,understanding loving romance. Sexy and financially sound blacklady and whitelady woman between 23-30 for aserious relationship leading to marriage .i want to makebe friend.My penis is big do you want big?i like black,whitewoman i need chocolate delight people for picture and book.i want to see to you.please do you have e-mail and yahoo chating.The real name and address please make sure that you .You pick me up for a serious relationship kiss to all who view my profile.

    i hope my request will meet your consideration.hoping to receive application from you.

    Thank u

    YOUR FAITHFULLY

    KWADZO VIEKU

  8. Felix says:
    Thu, 18th Oct 20078:38 am 

    Hello

    I am felix O. Eboh, A black guy who is interested I getting a

  9. mary says:
    Sun, 13th Jan 200810:38 am 

    AM A SINGLE 26YRS BLACK LADY FROM NIGERIA SEARCHING FOR A HONEST WHITE GUY FOR MARRIAGE.

  10. Jennifer says:
    Thu, 2nd Oct 20081:59 am 

    you GO girl!

  11. David says:
    Tue, 18th Nov 20082:58 pm 

    I am an active 50 year-old swm who takes care of my health and manages my weight, and I look more like a man in my early 40s (or so i'm told). I'm blessed with a house, 2 great dogs, a few close friends, and a good job. For years I wasted time, money, and emotions on sporadic dating with white women. All it lead to was alot of frustration and scorn for many white women. I recently opened myself up to dating women of color, be they black, hispanic, or asian. I discovered a world with much more dating possibilities. I am just getting started, so I'm new at approaching and trying to meet black women. I make no excuses, I find younger (25-40), attractive, and cultured black women very alluring and desirable. I love their skin, hair, lips, and curves. Let me share some of my reasons and observations of why I have grown to be interested in dating black women primarily.

    1. Black women don't seem as uptight as white women. You can be more forward and direct with them. Further, they tend to play less games and are less sneaky than your typical white woman.

    2. Black women don't seem as hung up on intergenerational dating as do white women. Age seems more relative to many black women.

    3. Being an employed white man with goals and a life appears to score more points with black women.

    4. Black women seem to be more realistic in their criteria.

    5. Black women tend to be more approachable than most white women. Rejections don't seem as mean spirited.

    To date, my dating experiences with black women has been rather limited, but I'm trying to meet more black ladies. I have noticed some things on the down side.

    1. Some black women are uncomfortable meeting and dating white men. ?

    2. Some black women seem confused or unfamilar with affection and intimacy from white men. Some black women have confided in me that they are not accustomed to being pursued, or they are not used to a man being gentle and tender with them (kissing, intimacy, lovemaking).

    3. I have faced animosity mostly from white, educated, and liberal women because of my attraction to black women. This attraction is not some curiousity phase or fetish, but i'm through with white women for good. I desire to find and love a lovely black woman.

  12. Ayman says:
    Sun, 31st Jan 20107:40 am 

    Black American are so strange, do they not realise their self hate, and the way they are manipulate by the society they are living, I am a black East African man, studying here in the USA, and I am surprise the level of disrespect among the black community, no other race disrespect and put their women above other races, why are the blacks in America do this to themselves. I love my East African women, and to me no woman can overshadow then, irrespective of their colour or creed.

    I hate when they say blacks and include blacks from Africa. I am a black African man and i would never go outside my race, and most Africans would not. So just say Afro American, without including all blacks from different parts of the world as we do not suffer this sel hating, and dispect of your wome.

    Black women are our queens, mothers, sister, and the blessing God has bestowed upon us, I will never give up the velvet chocolate beautiful body for washed out chicken.

  13. I.C. says:
    Mon, 22nd Aug 20117:32 am 

    Wow! How unaware of society are you. For the longest time the media 9American of coarse) has to often shown a blond white woman and a black male. Finally there's a change. Now we need to see more Asians and Blacks and maybe even a Native American or two. But American media has a sneaky undertone, white will always be our media's focus. SAD!

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