Community | September 23, 2008 | 12 comments

Black-white marriages in Alabama up sharply since the early 1990s

source: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/122215775810060.xml&coll=2

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TravG73
The annual number has more than tripled since the early 1990s, from about 300 a year to more than 1,000 a year.

But black-white unions still made up only about 2.8 percent of all marriages that occurred in the state in 2007.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there were about 405,000 black-white married couples in the nation in 2007, or 0.7 percent of all married couples.

Albert Woolbright, director of statistical analysis of the Alabama Department of Public Health, sees at least two factors contributing to the rise in black-white marriages: society is more accepting, and blacks have moved into the economic and social mainstreams.

For most of the 20th century, the Alabama Constitution included a prohibition against marriages between blacks and whites. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1967 in a Virginia case overturned all such laws. In 2000, Alabama voters removed the unenforceable ban from the constitution by a vote of 59.5 percent to 40.5 percent.

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12 comments // Black-white marriages in Alabama up sharply since the early 1990s

  • CedricaBaez
  • realrooks
    • 0
      realrooks  

    • Shallow comes to mind when reading this article. We live in a society fascinated by color. Unfortunately, we perpetuate this fascination by the mere discussion of it. Worse still, is the fact that, even in the 21st century, 40% of the state's voters (which consists of both blacks and whites), continue to support the ban on interracial marriage. We need to acknowledge the fact that there are no Pure Breeds, regardless of our skin tone similarities. We are far, far removed from racial purity.

    • 3 years ago
  • street_smart
    • 0
      street_smart  

    • whats the point of someone writing this article?! to inform the world that whites are starting to like blacks and visa versa..?!!? okkkk, wow..?

      u cant help who u love, color, race, religion..the heart is the most mysterious organ..its feels what it feels for whatever reason..lets become a unity and mature together..

    • 3 years ago
  • GrandKnow2
  • cantucwearebrothers
    • 0
      cantucwearebrothers  
    • street_smart:

      The only problem with that is people don't change that way. It's not like all of a sudden they look around and realize for themselves that we're all the same and that they are the ones with the problem.

      It takes people calling them out. Writing articles like this that bring attention to the issue. Even if it's something that shouldn't be an issue.

      The heart can't help who it loves but you shouldn't deny your heart a chance to love someone simply because of their skin color.

    • 3 years ago
  • realrooks
  • NeoDotCom
    • 0
      NeoDotCom  

    • This is the secret of the south
      We're only talking about marriage here
      What about kids out of wedlock
      Everytime I go to the south I see old white couples with their mixed grandbabies.

      That's why I think the conservatives are making massive power grabs now. The future is bleak for them and their movement.

    • 3 years ago
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • UrbanGypsy
  • Prijedor
  • papaya11
    • 0
      papaya11  

    • its human nature to rebel. the government tries to pound "the right way" into our brains. great example of how much more socially acceptable interratial relationships are becoming

    • 3 years ago
  • eboknee
    • 0
      eboknee  

    • I'm sure the majority of the couples are black men with white women.
      Apparently, black women are old fashioned to black men now.

    • 3 years ago
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