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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[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.

[Angela Causey]

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

[maromikun]

Most marriages fail anyway. Lol

[devilshomie]

Oh for god sake I am the product of an interracial marriage and I will date whoever the hell I want. I hate this stigma that black men are "betraying" their race because they date a white person or a hispanic person or an asian person. It pisses me off, why do I have to date only black men because I'm black and how am I "betraying" the black community, had a white person said that he only dated white people we would've all called him racist but if the person it black it's okay?

[shandiraprice]

I would certainly have to disagree with this woman , i know plenty of black women who date out and black men give them a very hard time so i think it works both ways its just that in my experiences the black guys that do get upset are normally hypocrites because they date out as well. just like when alot of black men were upset with whoopie goldberg for dating white men, dispite the fact that most blackmen think whoopie is ugly.

[rochelle076]

i would not dare date outside my race

[AngelsTakeMe2Heaven]

Can it all be the fault of black men that so many black women are unmarried?

[Chocogir1997]

@diamondsweetful There is wat?

[greasypizza2527]

I wish everyone would stop talking about races. We are all human. If white woman can't date black men, soon it'll be people with blue eyes can't date people with brown eyes!

[mrsjamesfrnco]

i think it's so stupid that black women feel upset or whatever you may want to call it when they see "their" black men dating outside their "race." who cares?

[toastedpancakes1]

Anderson do you date outside your race? ;)

[dynamyteful]

@Starkardur I agree with your step daughter. If you do, the movie tends to not do so well or it's not a big hit. Also, we never see Asians as lead characters either.. Frankly, it's disheartening.