How to Lead a Discussion on Interracial Marriage in America

In 1967, in the Loving vs. Virginia case, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a longstanding ban on interracial marriage, which involved Richard and Mildred Loving. Due to the state not recognizing interracial unions as legal, the couple was arrested in Virginia. According to a recent study by Pew Research, 64 percent of whites say they have no problem with interracial marriage while 27 percent say they don't agree but would accept it. Eighty percent of African-Americans don't mind interracial marriages while 16 percent disagree but would accept it. Here are ways you can lead a discussion on interracial marriage.

Things You'll Need

• Books or articles on interracial marriage
• Participants with various views on the subject
• Paper and pen

Instructions

1. Prepare for a heated debate. Interracial marriage is a subject about which participants agree or disagree. Ensure that they don't belittle each other's views just because they disagree with them. Instead, encourage them to politely state why they disagree and move to the next question.

2. Give participants a list of books or articles to read a few days before the discussion. Make sure the books you choose present both sides of the issue to ensure a fair discussion. Also have the participants answer questions regarding what they read so they can bring them up in the discussion.

3. Start the discussion with open-ended rather than Yes or No questions. You can ask a question like this: "President Obama is biracial. What implications does this have for interracial couples and how does Obama serve as a role model for the children of interracial couples?"

4. Have participants state their disagreements or agreements with the reading materials. For example, if one article states that interracial couples are more likely to divorce, a participant may disagree if he or she has been in an interracial marriage for 25 years and it is successful.

5. Conclude with final points. This step is intended to give a wrap-up of everything that was mentioned in the discussion, and to suggest ways to utilize the lessons that were learned in a practical way.

References

• Pew Social Trends: A Year After Obama's Election, Blacks Upbeat About Black Progress, Prospects
• University of Washington: Rainbow Coalition in The Golden State/, Exposing the Myths, Uncovering the Realities in Latinos' Attitudes Toward Blacks
• University of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh's Racial Demographics

Resources

• Hamilton College: How to Lead An Effective Class Discussion