Mixed Couples on American TV

[cindysphynx]

Naamagatus wrote:

> I couldn't help 
> noticing that on practically all the American TV shows (sitcoms, 
> dramas, soaps) there are no mixed - black and white - couples. 

I'd guess there are several reasons for this.  First, although 
interracial dating and marriage are more common now than many years 
ago (when it was forbidden by law in some states), they are still 
the minority of marriages.  

Second, and sadly, there are still *a lot* of people in this country 
who are quite uncomfortable with the idea of interracial marriage.  
A lot.  Did I mention there are *a lot* of people who feel that 
way?  It varies regionally, and it varies with what kind of couple 
you're talking about, but it is still much more controverial than it 
needs to be.


>I know 
> it's not an expression of racism - these shows are all mainstream 
>and 
> seem to bend over backwards to be PC. 

Um, well, I can only speculate here, but I would assume the 
writers/producers either have their own hang-ups, or more likely, 
simply don't want to do anything that might cause viewers to tune 
out.  

>I also remember a few years 
> ago, that Eric la Salle (Benton in E.R.) was uncomfortable with 
>his 
> character having an affair with a white woman (Elisabeth), and 
> because of that the romance between them was ended. 

Yes, I recall that.  I don't recall his specific reasons, but I 
suspect that particular plot line wasn't winning him any friends.  
Based on what I've seen, relationships between African American men 
and white women are the least accepted in the U.S., and African 
American men who date outside their race can take quite a bit of 
heat for it in the community.

> Since when - and WHY - has it become the bon-ton in the US for 
> "racially pure" couples? (I have to say, that I personally find 
this 
> racial exclusiveness disturbing, but maybe I'm not getting 
> something?)

Since when?  Forever.  Why?  Well, we have a long, sad history of 
race relations in this country, and we have a long way to go.  'Nuff 
said about *that*.

I recall years ago that I took a marketing course for some reason, 
and one of the studies I saw investigated the reactions of consumers 
to interracial ads.  In other words, what sells the product better:  
using actors entirely of one race or using a variety of actors?  The 
study found that people reacted more favorably to less racial 
mixing.  This was true of the two racial groups studied -- African 
Americans and whites.

Note:  I'm no expert on this sort of research, and I don't know the 
name of the study, and this was many years ago.  Maybe the study's 
observations are no longer valid.  But it did make me say, "Hmmmm."

Cindy (flying the Midlife Crisis Banner with David)