INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES: When the words ˜interracial marriage’ are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the marriage of people that belong to different races, but it’s much more than that. It’s the marriage of different cultures, different beliefs and different ways of life. Interracial marriage basically is the union of people from different races. There have been arguments and studies over the years either supporting or discouraging interracial marriage. I think interracial marriage is a unifying factor that should be embraced by the world over aimed at truly merging the different cultures all over the world. Citing the short story ˜Say Yes’ by Tobias Wolff and an article by Qian and Lichter, the following essay goes to support interracial marriage. Generally speaking, marriage is a social union formed between two people. Interracial marriages help bridge the gaps that have developed between different cultures in time. They actually lead to a better understanding of races different from ours. When two people get married, they develop a certain respect for each other’s culture that was previously held back by ignorance and close-mindedness. They get to learn that they’re not so different from each other. It also helps put us on the right track towards making the world a global village. Understanding of different cultures generally makes us more tolerant towards each other by bringing the two families together.(Qian and Lichter 12) According to Qian and Lichter, interracial marriage is an indirect measure of race relations and intergroup social distance. Social relations between whites and blacks has been seen to improve since thelaws that banned their intermarriage were lifted in 1967 (Qian and Lichter 8). The more the intermarriage between two races, the less the social distance.Therefore intermarriage actually goes to foster understanding and turn around animosities between races that have been present for centuries. Opponents of interracial marriage state that these marriages cannot work due to the vast difference in culture. The unnamed husband in the short story ˜Say Yes’ by Tobias Wolff does not support interracial marriage but claims he’s not racist. He argues that most interracial marriages end up breaking up because of the differences in culture and background. However, interracial marriages face the same challenges as same-race marriages; studies have shown that interracial marriage break ups don’t result from racial differences but from other challenges such as poverty and lack of communication.(Qian and Lichter 22) It would nevertheless be unrealistic to imply that these types of marriages don’t experience additional problems. Perhaps the greatest of challenge of all would be the outside pressure from friends and family to make the marriage work which in turn puts a strain on things. Friends who don’t expect the marriage to work also affect it negatively especially because the couple doesn’t experience their support(Wolff).Society also puts pressure on such a marriage as certain things are expected of such a union. The parents are required to bring up their children to feel accepted and to embrace both aspects of their heritage. In conclusion, interracial marriages only serve to bring people together and not to tear them apart. In this day and age, race has ceased to be a factor that causes uproar as we are all one and the same facing the same day to day challenges. It has truly become just a colour. Interracial marriage shouldn’t even be a matter that raises eyebrows or warrants public discussions, it should be an individual decision. Let us all embrace each other as humans and work together to create a better society for future generations to come. Works cited Wolff Tobias. Say Yes. Zhengao Qian and Lichter Daniel T. Crossing Racial Boundaries: Changes of Interracial Marriage in America, 1990-2000. 1-37.