African American Men in Interracial Relationships

This book explores the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and macrosystemic factors which impact African American men in interracial relationships, and the clinical implications of working with this nuanced population. Beginning with historical factors such as colonialism, the Transatlantic slave trade, The Great Migration, and the Civil Rights movement, this book investigates the progression of interracial relationships in the United States. Quantas L. Ginn considers the external and internal influences that affect relationship choices and dynamics such as sources of attraction, family acceptance, media influence, internalized racism, fetishization, and cultural norms. With primary research on the social, psychological, and relational effects of interracial relationships, including interview excerpts from African American men in interracial relationships, this book offers detailed insights from this unique demographic. Chapters explore racial identity development, attraction and preferences, family acceptance, and common issues encountered in relationships. Finally, the book concludes with effective adaptations of interventions for clinicians to provide more culturally responsive therapy to this population and further examine their own biases. This book is essential reading for researchers, students of gender studies, human sexuality, and race studies, as well as all mental health professionals such as sex therapists, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers.