In the 1960's, when housing discrimination was outlawed, many African-Americans moved into mainly Caucasian neighborhoods. The steadily growing areas in the west and southwest are least segregated, because these areas never had the entrenched African-American and Caucasian sections of town (Up For Separatist 30). Even more visible signs of desegregation can be seen in the areas of education. A study done by the University of Michigan shows that integration on campuses occurs on a regular basis. The racial lines are crossed routinely; about 50% of African-Americans and 15% of Caucasians reportedly study together. Ea

Races have mixed dating back to the Colonial days. Over time, other races have blended with Caucasians without question. African-American mixing, however, has been accountable for the "one drop" theory, which has defined a way to permanently separate African-Americans. The "one drop" theory was reinforced in the landmark Plessy vs. Ferguson Supreme Court ruling in 1896. The Plaintiff, Homer Plessy, argued that segregation was wrong and he should not be discriminated against because, after all, he was only one-eighth African-American. The justices, however, ruled that he must ride in the "separate but equal" coaches reserved for "colored people." Almost a hundred years later, in 1986, the Supreme Court, upheld a decision forcing a Louisiana woman who was only one-thirty second African-American, to be legally declared as African-American (Norinen 108).

Since 1972, surveys have asked whether the respondent would favor a law making inter-racial marriages illegal. In 1980, the results showed that 30.1% of Caucasians and 18.3% of African-Americans favor such a law. By 1994, the collected data showed 14.7% and 3.2% respectively. Similar trends have also been observed in busing and even integrated social clubs. (Up For Separatist 30) A simple analysis shows that on the surface desegregation is moving in the right direction.

Older children of interracial marriage parents also face problems. They have to make a choice as to which parent's culture to adopt. Halle Berry stated that it is important that multicultural individuals make a choice about race early in the life because even if they identify themselves as interracial they will still be discriminated against as a person of color in this country (Norman 108).

Another major barrier that African-American and Caucasian couples encounter comes from an unlikely source, religion. In Earnest Porterfield's classic survey of interracial marriages, one fact stands out. The majority of couples actively involved in Christian churches before marriage discontinue church membership and attendance after marriage. A growing number of couples in America are crossing racial and cultural lines to marry. Every couple has their own crisis but, for some, church officials who are against divorce will turn around and recommend a separation simply because the couple are African-American and Caucasian. In several

Some common words found in the essay are:
African-Americans Caucasians, God Israel's, University Michigan, African-American Caucasian, Bronz African-American, Earnest Porterfield's, African-American Baptist, African-American Norinen, Fred Anita, Halle Berry, african-americans caucasians, african-american caucasian, interracial married couples, interracial married, married couples, interracial marriages, aunapu 65, fred anita, separatist 30, interracial marriage, favor law, desegregation african-americans caucasians,
Approximate Word count = 1588
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)