How to Find Friends Comfortable With Interracial Marriage

The ban on interracial marriage was erased from law books in the late 1960s. Since then, interracial couples have become more accepted in their communities. For newly married interracial couples, or those who are starting over in a new town, making friends can be difficult. Here are some steps that should help you find friends that are comfortable with your interracial marriage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Look for a city or town that is diverse. The more diverse the area is, the more accepting the residents will be of interracial marriages. The reason: People who exist in a diverse environment will not see a diverse coupling as strange.

2. Find other interracial couples. You will not only gain friends, but the support of someone who has the same experiences as you do. They also come with their own friends who are already OK with interracial marriages.

3. Go online to find one of the many sites that offers groups for people with like experiences and characteristics. Websites such as Cafemom and Myspace have groups designed especially for interracial couples. They also can guide you to events in your area that are good places to find friends who are comfortable with interracial marriages.

4. Use your children. If your kids have interracial children in their school, make an effort to introduce yourself to the parents of those children. Again, you will find people with experiences similar to your own, and who may be looking friends themselves.

5. Get out there and mingle. Gallup Polls show that Americans are far more accepting of interracial marriages than ever before. In 1968, 20 percent of Americans said that they were comfortable with interracial marriages. By 2002, that number had risen to 73 percent.

Resources

• Cafemom, for mothers only
• Myspace