Destiny Frazier April 19, 2013 Alexandra Alessandri ENC1102 Final Essay Outline In her essay “The Evil Eye,” Wanda Coleman explores society’s unacceptance of interracial marriages. Coleman explains what she goes through on a day to day basis dealing with the negativity of society towards her being an African American woman married to a Jewish Caucasian man. When talking about interracial marriage or even interracial dating, it can be a polemical subject.
Interracial marriage is increasing in the United States since the US Supreme Court put a ban against them in 1967. It goes back in history why interracial marriage is frowned upon, religion, culture, dealing with race, and stereotypes. The price you have to pay dealing with race alone to this day has yet to stop, society are just stuck in its ways. Interracial marriage is not just the problem it goes way back in history, when African Americans were separated from Caucasians.
African Americans fought for their civil rights to get racial justice, “Fighting for desegregation and against discrimination and the denial by society of their legitimate claim to equal human and civil rights, were acts of courage in the prevailing climate of police brutality and lynching” (Minnesota Historical Society). As time went on African Americans started to stand up and fight for what is right, desegregation and equality of all people. It started with well known leaders we all know of today such as, Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, W.
E. B. Du Bois, Al Sharpton, Malcolm X, and the list goes on. As you can see the racial part in interracial is deeper than many young people today know about. Culture is a way of life, how you do things according to your beliefs. Being in an interracial marriage culture is a common bump in the road. Each individual has different beliefs towards things such as religion, parenting, and traditions. Those simple differences make a big difference. You have to be able to respect each other’s culture beliefs despite how other may feel.
As a child your parents raise you with beliefs they were raised with and it keeps getting passed down from generation to generation. When that one generation starts to rebel and show an opposing belief it causes tension within the family. Society is the world biggest critics, “What messes us up the most is that we all have this perfect picture in our minds of how things are suppose to be” (Unknown). Growing up in today’s society you are constantly being judge.
It started being judged by your race and religion now you’re being defined by what you wear, who you date, and how you look. Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to dating of their race not everyone has to agree either. It gets to the point we start to believe what they are saying is true and they’re the perfect example of how it should be. Some people want to date out their race but wont because of what people would say about them. “Imagine yourself—if you dare—in my skin, unable to go anywhere, day or night, without anticipating trouble” (Coleman 237).
Wanda herself explains the verbal abuse she suffers from when going out in public with her long time husband, but love conquers all, they were strong and powerful couple despite the criticism. Work Cited Coleman, Wanda. “The Evil Eye. ” Creating Nonfiction: A Guide and Anthology. Edition 09. Becky Bradway ;amp; Doug Hesse. Boston, New York. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 236-38. Print Stritof, Sheri. “Interracial Marriage Challenges”. About. com:Marriages. <http://marriage. about. com/od/interracial/a/interracialchal. htm>
