A Black Woman Speaks About Her Marriage to a White Man

One Woman's Experience with Interracial Marriage

To meet her, you'd never know anything was unique about Ruby Davis. She's a married, middle-aged, college-educated black woman with four children. All boys.

Her values are like many people in her subset. Get an education. Work hard. Live clean and with-in the law. Vote. Be a good citizen. Sound familiar?

The only thing that separates her from many other women in her demographics is that when she fell in love it was with a man of another race. He's white. It's a union that puts her in connection with only 2.7% of the American population according to the most recent US Census Bureau statistics.

So, how did a black woman who follows all of the rules end up falling in love with a white man?

Mrs. Davis' answers to this question are simple and give an eagle's view on how life is different now for many interracial couples versus 50 years ago when this type of union was illegal in many states.

Modkins: How long have you and your husband been together?
Davis: Almost 15 years.

Modkins: Wow. That's a long time. How did you meet?
Davis: We met when we were in college. My husband was a basketball coach and I was working as an assistant.

Modkins: Was it love at first sight?
Davis: No. Not at all. We hung out for a while as friends until one day I caught him googling at me?

Modkins: Googling? What do you mean?
Davis: He was staring at me and I could tell that he liked me. It was the first time I ever thought about us being together.

Modkins: What happened next?
Davis: We started dating.

Modkins: Was he the first white man you'd ever dated?
Davis: Pretty much. I dated a bi-racial man in the past, but not anyone who was white. It was the same for him. I was the first black woman he'd ever dated too.

Modkins: Was it different dating a white man versus a black man?
Davis: I hate to say so, but "yes."

Modkins: What's the difference?
Davis: I felt he was more loving, kind and respectful. It could have been the black men I was dating, but I don't know.

Modkins: How did your family feel about you two being together?
Davis: They have both been very accepting of it.