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Love and dating are huge social concepts that seem to fill our thoughts and behaviors, but so does race.
The cultural differences that impact our worldview and how we conduct ourselves seem to come into play while dating.
Marriage rates between Black women and the other races suggest there be a conversation on how this phenomenon compares to how other races are handling their love business.
According to the U.S. Census, compared to Hispanic and white women, Black women marry later in life or are less likely to marry.
Nearly 54 percent of the white population was married compared to 31.2 percent of the Black population, according to the Census data, and only 27.5 percent of the white population had never been married compared to half of the Black population.
Interracial dating and marriages are on the rise, but Black women are also the least likely to date outside their race, according to the data.
Mikayla Brown, a second-year pre-pharmacy major at FAMU, has struggled in the dating department as a dark skin Black woman.
“I grew up going to high school surrounded by a lot of white people, which affected my confidence because I was not seen as attractive,” Brown said. “I felt invisible and unwanted due to colorism and my surroundings.”
Preferences in the dating pool also raise questions about the different social dynamics the races have to undergo while dating.
A new study has shown that people of color are more likely to be swiped left on dating apps, but this is specifically heightened for Black users.
The research, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, conducted by William J. Chopik, found that participants were 2.3 times less likely to swipe left on a Black person than a white person.
Stereotypes and anti-Blackness can be contributing factors to why Blackness can be disregarded in the dating market.
There is a belief that Blackness can be seen as aggressive or that Black women are found less desirable in media.
Brown noticed that her white peers from high school were more inclined to marriage than her Black peers.
“Every time I look on social media, I see my white friends from back home getting engaged, or they are focused on finding the one,” she said.
The choices and options Black women face compared to their white counterparts are at odds. The odds are magnified regarding education, criminal justice, and discrimination.
Black women are most likely to “date down” in terms of education and social class, while white women usually end up with their “equals.”
According to Pew Research, the proportion of Black women college graduates aged 25 to 35 who have never married is 60 percent, compared to 38 percent for white college-educated women.
The gender proportions for Black men and women are also at odds due to higher mortality rates among Black men.
The dating game looks different for many people. Black people deal with a unique case of racism, fetishization, and harmful assumptions while dating. Race plays into the options one may have and culturally affects the way someone handles the game of dating. The game of love may not hold the same cards for all races.