Check out someone of a different skin color

No matter how much progress we have made and despite all the challenges of finding a suitable mate, we have not yet fully exploited the opportunity provided by dating someone who is not like us - in this case, of a different race. I have some friends from other countries and they actually make a trip to their native countries to get married within a matter of days to a person that they have never met before. I know arranged marriages do have some advantages and we are free to marry anyone we want but when people stop looking at potential mates right next to them simply because they are "different," there is something strange about it.

So what makes an interracial relationship successful. Willie Harmon reminds me that I might have missed a big point on the whole interracial dating scorecard and that is "acceptance." "If a man or woman was looking for love, acceptance of a person is the key. Those who choose to date only one race are prejudiced no matter how many friends of other races they have; to not be prejudiced, one would have to be open to all possibilities of becoming intimately involved with anyone they connect with regardless of skin color or national origin. The heart does not recognize skin colors, the brain does. Prejudice in not a heart's decision, it is a brain decision. A choice among people is for short or tall, fat or skinny, long hair or short hair; not whether you are white or not. It's time people start telling it the way it is." (Related article: Challenges of interracial dating)

I do find some of the points put forward by Willie Harmon as convincing - that we should open our hearts and mind and let it decide what it wants to do. In other words, we have to get rid of all preconceived ideas and biases about other people. It is not going to be easy. After all, we are full of impressions about everyone without even taking the time to validate them. As Willie Harmon continues, "People are prejudiced if they will not openly engage in a relationship with a person if everything else is desirable except the race. What the family or friends will accept is sustaining that prejudice and racial divide. This type of hateful behavior only breeds more hate, either from the victim(s) or the perpetrator(s)."

Willie Harmon goes on to say that "Now is the time to change the mind and hearts of everyone. There are educated and wealthy people from all walks of life. Judge me by what is in my heart and my actions, not by my skin." He may sound like he is a bit strong in his opinions but he is right. So let us get rid of the prejudices and biases and embrace anyone that we like no matter what they look like.

Recommended articles

Dating African Americans

Dating Black singles

Dating tips for Hindus