Do You Date Outside Your Race?

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This episode of "Anderson" airs on Friday, November 4, 2011. For when the show airs in your town, go to AndersonCooper.com.

In the new book, "Is Marriage for White People?: How the African-American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone," Ralph Richard Banks examines the issue that finds fewer African-American women are marrying, and are not dating outside their race.

"It's a huge issue, says Banks. "African-American women are the most unmarried group of women in the country. About 70% of black women are unmarried, and their racial gap in marriage extends across the socioeconomic spectrum. So it's not only poor women, it's college educated black women who are about twice as likely to be unmarried than their white counterparts."

Journalist and TV personality Jacque Reid admits to not dating outside her race. On Thursday's (11/4/11) episode of "Anderson," Reid says, "I end up dating African-American men because there is a comfort level. We have a lot in common, for example. Do you know what it's like to be ashy?"

"As perhaps the palest man in American," says Anderson. He has no idea, and then asks, "But is there a stigma associated with African-American women dating a white guy?"

Reid says for herself, no, but explains, "I think black women are more sensitive about seeing black men with white women. There is such a shortage, in our eyes, of black men to choose from in the first place."

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• anderson cooper
• jacque reid
• Ralph Richard Banks
• Is Marriage for White People?
• interracial dating
• relationship
• dating
• books
• essence
• marriage
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• black
• racial
• group
• journalist
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• daytime

[chesleycareystar]

LOVE HAS NO COLOR. 

[Onegurrrlrev]

I never thought about "shortage of men" but I'm from a different generation too. Some may find it peculiar that I am 25 and still havent dated a Black man yet. My first and only bf was Brazilian and Mexican but have gone on dates with men who were Indian, pakistani, palestinian/iranian, Italian, Norwegian, French, etc. A MAN IS A MAN regardless of culture and skin color.

[CarlyV25]

it's kind of like how i feel when i see white men with asian women....i feel hurt....kind of. And i'm a hispanic girl who likes and has always dated white men. I just wish i saw more white men with latinas.

[fcgfgcfg]

I don't know whether to empathize with this woman coz am not black. Hope its not that big an issue as she's putting it out to be

[jeralee23]

honestly i don't care which race i date.i'm black so if i date in or outside my race it's not an issue to me.we're all equal.

[buraburayoshi]

okay as a black female,I think it's stupid that black women continue to use the excuse of dating outside of their color spectrum because 'all the black men are taken by white women' that is the stupidest excuse. It's a double standard, and if you want to date outside of your race do it because you found someone that connects with you not because there is a "lack of good black men".... which is a huge crock. Don't bring those excuses up anymore, date,regardless of color and those feeble excuses.

[Naomiluvsice]

Im a black woman i have always dated outside of my race and i feel other black women should experience men of other races also

[nyker07]

Why are black women allowed to say "Stay loyal to black mates" and not get in trouble, but when white men tell white women they should stay with white men or it's a turn off to see a white girl who dates black men, it's labeled as racist?

[XxxSuper123]

@blkmun86 I'm assuming you think a black man dating a white woman is okay.

[askar4kill]

Jesus Christ get over it. If a black man dont want u.... Moooove along

[BadBeautyyy]

wow if a black guy dates outside of his race its his personal preference. and for the black women in the world thats their problem and not the black mens fault

[blaqueangel2012]

I actually get pretty happy when I see an interracial couple..love is love