Enlarge A diverse audience attended the premiere of Southern Blend: A Dating Experiment.

Posted: February 14th, 2012 Carla Hough

In 2012, it may seem a little odd that interracial dating is still a taboo subject in certain parts of the country. It has been almost 45 years since the last bans on interracial marriage were lifted in the U.S., but the topic can still provoke heated discussions. Those in interracial relationships often catch a second or third glance when venturing out, proof that such relationships aren't always viewed as a common occurrence.

A diverse group attended the Feb. 10 premiere of Southern Blend: A Dating Experiment, held at the UNCC Center City Building. Southern Blend, a documentary helmed by producer and director Rod Garvin, focuses its eye on interracial dating in the South. After a reception, attendees were treated to a first viewing of the film immediately followed by a panel discussion.

Garvin, a participant of several diversity initiatives in the city, has worked with Mecklenburg Ministries, Community Building Initiative and Generation Engage. He believes society’s views on interracial dating are a “litmus test for racial progress” and wanted to document a subject that had not been tackled specifically through a Southern lens.  The documentary video project and dialogue series is supported by Crossroads Charlotte.

Weaving reality-style dating experiments with interviews and commentary, the film speculates on whether skin color and cultural differences will ever be viewed as objects of appreciation instead of obstacles to forming relationships.

Dr. Anthony Green, a sociology lecturer who provided several insights throughout the film, pointed out that though we are “progressing towards a more racially heterogeneous society,” many continue to live in a “racialized” world - truly engaging only with those who share their own cultural background. Such was the case with Ebony, a young African-American woman whose blind date with Adam, a man of mixed Chinese and Caucasian ancestry, was captured on film. Usually dating within her race, Ebony found the experiment eye-opening when she discovered she unexpectedly had things in common with Adam. This date, along with other blind dates in the documentary, provided several insights, sometimes humorous, into the world of interracial dating.

In addition to those dates, several couples in established relationships were interviewed. A consensus from many was that family and friends typically expressed more fears for their relationship than the couples had themselves. Gail and Steve, an interracial couple who recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, pointed out that respecting cultural differences is imperative. Michael, an African-American male married to a woman of Jewish descent, spoke of how he had to navigate the fears his wife's family had for their relationship and then future children.

After the the film, a panel of some of the film’s interviewed subjects and blind daters took the stage. Tiffanie Davis Henry, a Charlotte native, therapist and relationship expert who is currently co-host of the ABC talk show The Revolution, joined the conversation via Skype. Questions from Garvin, who served as moderator, and from audience members sparked a lively discussion. Sophia Matthews, an audience member who is presently in an interracial relationship, discussed how she is sometimes approached by others also in interracial relationships for kinship. Interrelated topics included classism and dating, children of mixed racial heritage and the upcoming generation’s view on relationships with others of different cultural backgrounds.

Garvin, the Director of Member Engagement at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, plans on continuing his newfound documentary filmmaking career and is currently exploring a project focusing on the upcoming Presidential election from a regional perspective.

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