Interracial couples in the media

[Belial]

Hi guys,

Firstly, I should warn you that this is potentially going to be controversial. I feel that most of us here are capable of remaining calm and rational and this is why I feel able to post this.

Secondly, while I should not have to post this disclaimer, it would be safest to do so. I have absolutely no objections of any kind to interracial couples on the basis of their racial differences whatsoever. Doesn't matter to me.

Now, for the meat of this discussion. I have noticed that one particular configuration of interracial couple appears to be quite prevalent in the media, particularly in advertising. I see far more couples comprised of a man of African ancestry (henceforth simplified and generalised as "black man") and a woman of Caucasian ancestry (similarly, "white woman"). Now, I reiterate, this doesn't bother me at all, but I am curious as to why I see this configuration far more often than say, a white man with a black woman in the media. Is there some subtext of race and marketability? Something else? Am I imagining things? If not, does the media representation accurately reflect the "real world"?

I'm sorry if I have offended any of you or trod on any toes, but I would rather have this discussion than not. Please be thoughtful in your responses.

[BlueSwede]

All I can tell you is that in the United States, the number of black male/white female couples outnumber the number of white male/black female couples (for a number of reasons). However, the number of white male/black female couples is steadily growing.

[Irish]

I don't know,if this works,both ways or not.One of my closest
friends,in Conn,is black.He was married,for years,to a white woman.They eventually,split up,because,everywhere that they
went together(parties,socials,etc)they would be ostracised by
BOTH races.They couldn't take the pressure,divorced,& he is now
married to a Black(much younger)women,that we both worked
with.The ONLY problem,that they have,is her(smartass)teenaged
brothers.That has nothing to do with race. Irish

[Ranger1930]

its about money...

They market what the peopel that are going to see it.. want to see..

at this moment in time in the US pop culture.. the thing that's in.. is black dudes bang'n white bitchs..... (pop culturaly speaking of course)

So thats the kinda bullshit we have to put up with on a daily basis..

Lemme tell ya what.. personally i think its a load of crap.. but then again...


if i was a rapper..... had.... somewhere in the area of 300 million legally earned funds.. not to mention the other 900 million earned in drug sales that is in a shoe box in my new york Brownstone ghetto ass townhouse... I suppose I'd hire as many whores as my dick could handle too... especially ones everyone would gasp over and say.. "Omi god you depraved and debauched little man"


then again.. with that much money you can hilary clinton sucking your dick as well. So it really doesnt matter what the people that run this country think. so long as there is a pop culture to flood the country with its own money. and the government makes their tax money off every sale... they don't give a god damn what type of decency is shown..

[Booger]

Originally posted by Ranger1930
its about money...

They market what the peopel that are going to see it.. want to see..

at this moment in time in the US pop culture.. the thing that's in.. is black dudes bang'n white bitchs..... (pop culturaly speaking of course)

So thats the kinda bullshit we have to put up with on a daily basis..

Lemme tell ya what.. personally i think its a load of crap.. but then again...


if i was a rapper..... had.... somewhere in the area of 300 million legally earned funds.. not to mention the other 900 million earned in drug sales that is in a shoe box in my new york Brownstone ghetto ass townhouse... I suppose I'd hire as many whores as my dick could handle too... especially ones everyone would gasp over and say.. "Omi god you depraved and debauched little man"


then again.. with that much money you can hilary clinton sucking your dick as well. So it really doesnt matter what the people that run this country think. so long as there is a pop culture to flood the country with its own money. and the government makes their tax money off every sale... they don't give a god damn what type of decency is shown..


dude that is just so wrong on so many levels

[Ranger1930]

Only because its true my friend...

[Belial]

Originally posted by BlueSwede
All I can tell you is that in the United States, the number of black male/white female couples outnumber the number of white male/black female couples (for a number of reasons). However, the number of white male/black female couples is steadily growing.

What reasons, BlueSwede?

[LixyChick]

This may be the circumstance in "billboard" advertising...but not necessarily true on television shows and such. It is more the norm for a white male to be hooked up with a black female in a TV show. I don't think it is a true reflection of real life culture...but dates back to the antiquated notion of censorship and what can and cannot be shown on TV...ie: two beds for couples, no belly button shots, no mixed race couples, etc..

We are rather slow in catching up with the times. We've just recently (the past 5 years or so) saw a woman in a bra, instead of the bra being over her clothing, in billboard ads and TV commercials. The powers that be (the bible thumping, moral majority) try and think for us...and in turn let us see what they think we are capable of handling. I'd say you have censhorship to thank for differentiating between black male/white female ads and any other mix that would reflect the true norm...because it's what THEY think is the most acceptable.

[PantyFanatic]

<--------- *Approaches a thread that is such a crock of shit with a flyswatter in each hand.*


Belial- I know you are much smarter than to ask a question like that.
…..does the media representation accurately reflect the "real world"?…..
Surely you jest!?! :dizzy: :spin: :dizzy:

as for
…..I am curious as to why I see this configuration far more often than say, a white man with a black woman. …..
I guess black guys are just luckier than us white guys. :rolleyes:


Ranger1930-
…..I suppose I'd hire as many whores as my dick could handle too... especially ones everyone would gasp over and say.. "Omi god you depraved and debauched little man"…..
I’m sure that if you play your cards right and give it time,……….. your “role playing” chocolate fantasy will come true too. ;)

[Steph]

I know a few white women at work who will only date black men. They simply think they're better looking.

I do see a lot of black women with white guys here, too, though.

[Lilith]

It depend on where you live. I certainly know that in some areas interracial dating/relationships have nothing to do with being "trendy" or about $$ such as someone suggested.

I think advertising is finally catching up with society. if you act like something is taboo and avoid it, you perpetuate the racist attitudes that are slowly waning.

In my area, you see all kinds of people digging all kinds of people.

[lakritze]

Does anybody remember the statement that Warren Beatty said in BULLFINCH about how we should all fuck until we're all one colour?

[Belial]

Originally posted by PantyFanatic

Belial- I know you are much smarter than to ask a question like that.

Surely you jest!?! :dizzy: :spin: :dizzy:



While I am aware that the media rarely reflects reality, usually it reflects an image that has some realistic elements, otherwise even the most moronic of consumers would realise what was happening.

Originally posted by PantyFanatic

I guess black guys are just luckier than us white guys. :rolleyes:



I never said anything like that. All I'm trying to find out is:


Why the media, and advertisers in particular, seem to favour the aforementioned configuration of interracial couple over others - or, am I seeing something that isn't happening?
Is there some basis in "real life" for this?

[jseal]

Belial,

I suspect that it is because the people who prepare the images believe that it helps sales. While interracial pairing is no longer illegal or taboo, it is still, for many, titillating. Titillating sells.

I don’t mean that in a deprecating way. As LixyChick pointed out in her post, the ratio seems to her to be reversed in television shows. Look at it from the point of the Producer/Director/Script Writer. By introducing an interracial pairing into a plot, many social interactions and complexities can be explored. Such explorations can enliven an otherwise dull product, drawing the attention which advertisers crave and pay for.

Assuming that your perceptions do correctly reflect the actual ratios in your viewing area, and are not a comment about what catches your attention (you must admit that possibility), then why which ratio predominates in a particular genre may depend upon the statement being made in the production.