Black man kissing white woman causes stir
On the cover of today’s Go! magazine, a regular section of Friday’s Post-Dispatch, there is a photo of a couple kissing to go along with the story “The 7 Best Places To Smooch”. The story hasn’t generated a ton of buzz, but the photo has. Why? Because the man is black and the woman is white. The reader comments at the end of the online version clearly showed us that at least some folks out there are not comfortable with interracial relationships.
The April 10 GO! cover generated disapproving story comments from some Post-Dispatch readers.
Here are a couple of examples:
From 1buschstadiumplz: “Haven’t read the story but dont like to see blacks and whites kissing;”
From taxpayer came this remark: ”This doesn’t surprise me at all. Libs take every opportunity they can to shove miscegnation in our faces. Now that TV has to show blacks in every commercial, notice that they are always posed beside a blonde woman. Not a brunette, a blonde. Its done for shock value. Sickening that a once proud newspaper would resort ot this. Joe Pulitzer is turning over in his grave in shame.”
Reader greggh tried a middle-of-the-road approach: “I’m not judging the concept of biracial couples at all, but in a city as racially polarized as St. Louis, I’m shocked that the PD would go so out of its way to be so gratuitously provacative. This completely undercut the message of the article.”
“You people make me sick! What a disgustingly racist community we live in. My husband is black, I am white, we have beautiful children and we are both educated. We teach our children tolerance and acceptance of others, even the meth smoking, trailer park rednecks portrayed in these comments. Keep your nastiness to yourself!”
(27 votes, average: 4.37 out of 5)
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Doug Moore has been a reporter with the Post-Dispatch since February 2000. For the last two years, he has covered diversity and demographics. 
I saw the photograph this morning, noticed an article on places to ’smooch,’ subconsciously noticed a couple was kissing and - honestly - didn’t even notice or paid attention to what ethnicity the couple was. Had I noticed, I wouldn’t have even thought twice; I’m used to interracial couples - particularly in ‘hip’ club settings where the photograph appears to have been shot.
Actually, I am surprised to hear that there was a negative reaction to the photograph from some of the populace. I would think any controversies about this subject would have ended years ago.
Deep down, I don’t think most people are USED to seeing interracial couples - but also, deep down, there really isn’t a reason to question them. Many people have emotional reasons for questioning them, but they don’t have a position of logic to argue from.
There really isn’t a rational defense against interracial relationships - and there isn’t a Biblical defense (unlike, say, homosexual relationships)….after all, Moses married a woman of dark skin…
I’m really surprised that people are upset by this. But you’re not going to please everyone. Me personally, I don’t like to see anyone kissing…that’s just me.
I was born in the mid ’40s. My views of EVERYTHING have changed over the years. Grow up St. Louis….we are long overdue!
— mogoid **** WOW, I did not realize that I said all that you say I said. You are a perfect example of poor communication. I wrote one thing, but being on the defensive, you understood another. Maybe you should read again but with a more open mind.***** John C.– I really appreciate your point.
People………get a life.
I don’t mind this photo at all, except her grabbing his tie. For some reason, that bothers me. Maybe because I’ve had neck problems. Anyway, the interracial thing doesn’t bother me, but had the PD used a same-sex couple I would have had to object. That would cross my personal line.
john,
You are a walking (or at least typing) stereotype. I loved the “I’m not racist, I have inter-racial couples for friends” comment. That’s usually the first thing out of a bigot’s mouth once they remove their foot.
Then you claim people are quick to jump on you. Yet, I was responding to a comment where you were whining that people were NOT responding to another of your posts.
I lived in the south for nearly 20 years. For years the engagement and wedding sections in the paper have had biracial couples. It is old news. For people to be upset about a picture of a biracial couple kissing means just one thing..and the use of the word miscenegation is a tip off. And I am not a liberal, but being conservative does not make one a racist. And a biracial couple kissing bothers me not one whit.
I saw the cover. Thanks for pointing it out…I hadn’t paid any attention to the race of either person.
Question, if they have a child, will the child be considered black or mix race? While it’s of little value, Obama is called black, yet his mother was white.
According to a 2007 Gallup poll, 77% of Americans approve of interracial marriages. That is up from 4% in 1958. Despite what some would have you believe, I’d say we have made some progress. http://www.gallup.com/poll/28417/Most-Americans-Approve-Interracial-Marriages.aspx