The making of a middlerace: The social politics surrounding Black-White interracial marriages and Black White biracial identity

Abstract

In an attempt to uncover the social politics surrounding Black-White interracial marriages
and Black-White biracial identity, this thesis investigates outsiders' and insiders'
perspectives on the issues. Black and White participants of the study reported positive
attitudes toward Black-White interracial marriage, while they reported negative attitudes
toward Black-White biracial individuals. No statistically significant differences were
found between Blacks and Whites in attitudes toward Black-White interracial marriages
and Black-White biracial identity. No statistically significant differences were found
between men and women, either. The insiders' reports, however, contradicted these
findings. Both Black-White interracial couple and Black-White biracial adult participants
of this study reported that society's (Blacks' and Whites') attitudes toward them were
negative. Findings are discussed and ideas for future studies forwarded.

Date of Award	2008
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Melanie Mills (Supervisor)