Couples Share the Happiness and Heartache of Interracial Marriage | National Geographic

In 2015, 17 percent of U.S. newlyweds had a spouse of a different race or ethnicity. That’s roughly a fivefold increase since 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Loving v. Virginia made interracial marriage legal.

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Changing the law was a start—but it didn’t “necessarily do anything to change people’s minds,” says Syracuse University law professor Kevin Noble Maillard, who writes frequently about intermarriage. Partners of different races or ethnicities are nothing new, he notes: “But it’s very different when there’s public recognition of these relationships and when they become representations of regular families—when they’re the people in the Cheerios commercial.”

We sat down with 17 couples from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area to talk about their experiences of being in a marriage that crosses racial or ethnic lines and to learn about their hopes for the future.

Read the full April 2018 article on intermarriage, “The Many Colors of Matrimony,” and check out the entire National Geographic issue on race.

Couples Share the Happiness and Heartache of Interracial Marriage | National Geographic

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

For some of these interracial couples, the criticism came from parents and other close family members. What do you think are some ways to foster tolerance and understanding when it comes to interracial relationships?

[pepperanntocool]

As a Christian myself i really don't like to see people mis-use the bible to justify their hate, it's ashame.

[AviSandy]

I am from India and married to a Chinese. For me key is to get my relatives know my wife and see how similar she is to us ! We're all very similar in this world it's just the stereotypes that's creating xenophobia

[clowicous]

"I'm now ... totally dominated by my wife"
"That has nothing to do with my culture"
"EXACTLY"
lmfao that was cute and funny lol

[imchenfamily]

Being interracial marriage it's always important to understand one another culture, respect and learn from one another. I'm a British and my husband being Asian- Indian we have learn so many things from one another culture.

[tonjamartin]

Omg I couldn’t stop smiling! These people are so in love!! Who cares about what color your skin is the goal is to find someone who makes you feel this way.

[bungtan]

God its hard enough to find someone you love who loves you back so why should we even include race in the picture? As long as you're happy then marry whoever you want to

[aliciabrillante]

Love is love and people are people. I'm glad these couples stood against the odds and followed their hearts.

[lydielo]

How has marriage changed you? “I am now after so many years, totally dominated by my wife.” -Best line! 😅😂🤣😅😂

[I.R_Inori]

Love is love no matter the race, color, gender, or if you’re a freaking person from outer space. It’s heartbreaking to know the prejudices towards something benign.

[sassycat]

I was thinking lately about how most of my cousins are married now and the ones who are married interracially are the ones never having drama and seem the happiest to me.

[AzlianaLyana]

We must move forward and look beyond the colour of our skin. After all, it's just SKIN colour, something that makes us uniquely us, but doesn't separate us as a species. The same human blood runs in every human being. Love is beautiful isn't it? Thanks National Geographic for sharing.

[theclumsybrit]

Why is race such a big issue in the U.S? Everyone's obsessed with it over there...

[NerdChaser]

I have been in an interracial relationship for 10 years and it wasn’t until about a week ago that my husband said something about it that I realized.. “oh yeah, I guess we are” lol. Luckily we didn’t deal with much opposition since we’re both minorities so we never really noticed before.

[brendacarter]

I just love interracial couples. Love doesn't have a color. Be happy!!

[gatuvella]

Why are we talking about this? It’s 2018 and it makes me so sad/angry that this is till considered an “issue”.

[williammatthews]

People shouldn't get so upset about "interracial" relationships. We are of one race. The Human race. Get over it.

[MercyS]

Aww such a beautiful video! Love truly has no color, race or sexual identity, love is love ♥️

[AviSandy]

Thanks for the great video. I am from India and married to a Chinese. We're all very similar in this world it's just the cultural stereotypes that's creating xenophobia and when you know someone from a different race you realize how similar you're to them !

[quenchtv]

im so happy to see this regardless of race and gender love wins it's hard to find someone you can be together forever