By Maya Scruggs // Contributing Writer | Photo courtesy of Destinee Boyd
Students gathered in the Media and Entertianment Building on Tuesday to have a panel discussion centered around interracial dating called “When Love Crosses Borders.” Those who are looking to get into an interracial relationship can use a site like Interracial Dating Central to help them find a relationship.
Leading the discussion were MTSU NAACP President Destinee Boyd, NAACP members Alexandria Davis, Eliza Ford, and Malik Lennon, and GOP member Tia Beasley, all of them MTSU students. Dating amongst students can be tough, not everyone has their life planned out and not everyone wants to commit at such a young age. Thankfully, there is a fuckbook hookup app for those who do just want to have a little fun and not settle down just yet, but there are also some who are looking for a long term relationship.
To break the ice, the first question involved the panel sharing what they like in a man or woman. As the panel discussed what they like in an individual, everyone’s response sounded similar, but different in so many ways.
“I like someone who has a good outlook on life and is very positive,” Lennon said.
Having someone who has goals and wants something out of life is what they all agreed on. As they got warmed up from sharing what they want in a relationship, they were asked whether there a requirement to communicate with their significant other via text or phone on the daily basis. In a society where everyone just about has a cell phone, they agreed not too many people communicate like the older generation did back then.
When it comes to relationships, not everyone present believed that in order to be in a relationship they have to text or call each other every minute of the day.
“I think communication is very important but I’m not one to communicate completely throughout the whole day, I want to be able to have something to talk about,” Tia Beasley said.
The next question that was asked involved how the panels families feel about them dating outside their race. This has been a huge topic for many years, and there will always be someone who is against it. Ford mentioned that she has been in situations where a white man would ask her if she has dated a black guy. After answering yes, the guy would tell her that he wasn’t interested in dating her no matter how long ago it was.
“It’s always that stigma and you have to know how to deal with it,” Ford said. “You have to figure out what you want to do and what you don’t want to do.”
As was heard at the discussion, there are many factors that are involved when it comes to being in a relationship whether it be race; age, religion, sex, and much more.
“A big thing that was discussed today was sex, and I don’t think that your past sex life should determine whether or not you choose to be with someone in the future,” said MTSU senior Kamyi Butler. Everyone’s sex life varies so why should the past affect the future? From wanting to take a look at foreign sex to stick with what you know, everyone is entitled to their own sexual freedom and they can do as they please.
This discussion was just one of the many upcoming Black History Month events on campus. See the full schedule for the month here.
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I have never understood how someone could base their dating life off the race of another, or allow their parents to choose their dating lifestyle for them. I have friend who is white and her father is complete against her dating an African American man, he is not racist and I know for a fact that he is not since me and her have been best friends for over 20 years. In a way this hurts her out look on life because she feels that she is restricted to just one race. She has snuck around to date the people she wants to date, but I know that it will always hurt her to know that she will never be able to bring those men home because her father will not approve. That’s a girl’s worse nightmare. Having her father not accept the man that she likes or very well may be in love with. It also affects the men because they feel the unwelcome tension, and that can break a man down to know that the women you love family does not approve of your presence in her life. I know that if my boyfriend were to tell me his mother does not approve I would feel as if I am wasting my time, because I very well may never be accepted into his family, and love cannot grow where it is not welcome.
That is very unfortunate that your friend is in that type of situation. Trust me I’ve never understood racism or why some families don’t want their children to date outside of their race. It’s pretty sad to know that many people are still stuck in the past when it’s 2016! Some things will never change and that’s just the world we live in. I’m very blessed to have a family that doesn’t mind me dating outside of my race. As long as my future boyfriend treats me right and respects me, that is all my family truly cares about, not their race.