ABSTRACT
The historical context of miscegenation in the United States has continually evolved over the last 200 years. Anti-miscegenation laws were found unconstitutional in 1967. Although able to legally marry, couples suffered from both the overt and covert oppressive symptomology of colonialism and White supremacy, such as the sexualization of interracial unions, discrimination, hate crimes, rejection from family of origin, and microaggression.
Research is sparse concerning mixed-race couples, with mainly qualitative studies to date. Some of the data collected was used to pathologize these relationships, cautioning their demise. The census data shows the growing number of multiracial families. According to the 2015 Pew Research Center analysis of the US Census Bureau data, one in ten married couples contain spouses of different races or ethnicities.
This chapter will review historical challenges of interracial partnerships and highlight the rapid increase in multiracial individuals. In addition, it discusses methods and tools for working within the complex realm of couples counseling and sex therapy with ever-evolving multiracial couples.
