Question of the Day: An Interracial Dating Double Standard?
CNN recently reported the story of Brian Milligan Jr., an 18-year-old white man who was beaten by a group of 10 to 15 black men, possibly because Milligan was dating a black woman, 18-year old Nicola Fletcher. The couple from Buffalo, NY said they'd been regularly harassed by men and boys in the neighborhood because of their relationship. Milligan had even been shot with paintball pellets two days before the incident. His father now wants the attack to be treated as a hate crime.
From CNN:
Armed with a chunk of concrete, several assailants beat Brian Milligan Jr. on the back of the head on August 18, leaving a 3-inch gash. They kicked him in the face, breaking his jaw.
Bloodied and bruised, the 18-year-old managed to walk five blocks to his grandmother's house before being rushed to the hospital.
Milligan's father believes several African-Americans beat his son, who is white, because he is dating an African-American woman. He wants police to treat the beating as a hate crime. He also has criticized what he calls a deafening silence from the community, police and the national media.
"If this was a black guy who was beaten by a group of white guys for dating a white girl, people would be up in arms," he said. "There's a double standard."
No arrests have been made. In the story it says he suffered blood on the brain and brain swelling from the incident. He also doesn't remember the beating. Community response to the attack has been muted and one local pastor spoke out about why.
"At first, it didn't affect me the way that it would have if I heard it was a black teen attacked," said the Rev. Darius Pridgen, who spent years fighting for civil rights for African-Americans.
"But after I saw his father on TV pleading with the community to find the assailants, I decided I had to go after the people who beat this kid."
Pridgen said he felt that the community has turned a collective blind eye to the beating. So he gave a fire-and-brimstone sermon at the True Baptist Church on a Sunday after the attack, appealing to his congregation to help find the culprits.
"He didn't deserve to be beaten this way," Pridgen recalled saying at the service. "If you believe this, put your hands together."
If it was a black teen, Pridgen said, "We would have been protesting with flags and everything else."
Rod Watson also addressed the issue in his column in the Buffalo News. Watson, who is black, pointed out that interracial marriages are nearly 10 times higher than they were in 1960, according to U.S. Census data, but still those couples have a tough time being accepted by society.
"If blacks in Buffalo in 2009 are acting like whites in Selma in 1959, this society has big problems, despite electing a president who is himself the product of an interracial union," Watson said.
When I read this story I was horrified, as I am, whenever senseless violence occurs. I was also very saddened that this was black people acting violently and behaving as if another black person were their property and beating a man for dating, re: having a potential sexual relationship with their "property." And that made me feel sick because as Watson points out, that is the same mentality white racists had and still have towards interracial dating. It wasn't OK to hang, beat, maime, mutilate and murder countless black males for allegedly being involved with a white woman. I don't see how black people could turn around and act out the same sick pathology knowing what we know about what was done to us. It's not like this one particular white man was oppressing black people. He was just dating one. What sense does this make? And unlike some of the residents of Buffalo I am just as offended about this as I would be if the roles were reversed. People should be allowed to love and be loved by whomever they choose without fear of nearly dying over it.
But what do you think? Should the men involved with Milligan's beating me charged with a hate crime? Is the community response slow because of a double standard? Is that double standard warranted? Is there every a scenario where it is OK to react in violence to a situation like this? Was anyone less horrified or unaffected because the victim was a white man and why?
Danielle Belton | 58 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged CNN, crime, hate crime, interracial issues, question, race, racism 
Reader Comments (58)
This was racist, sexist, and terrorist in nature. Black women are not the "property" of Black men, just like Black men are not the property of Black women, which Black men are often so eager to make known when it comes to their dating options.
I must also say we weren't there.
Maybe white guy walks past a group of black guys from the neighborhood...
"Yo, ain't you the cracker dating that sista Nicola?"
"Damn straight, she wanted a real man, not some punk hangin' on the corner with no job! Where is your girl tonight, I'll hit that too" (beating follows)
OR
White guy was a dealer and got his ass beat in a deal gone wrong.
OR
White guy has a true addiction and love for a "lil' bit of chocolate chip" and another sista's boyfriend was beating his ass for messing with his girl.
We don't know.
Call me the mean and heartless, but...if the neighbors are already shooting you with paint balls - what the fuck you doin' walkin' around the hood alone at night?
I'm a black woman, who has only been in relationships with men of another race. If somebody has problem with my relationship, I tell my boyfriend to stand aside and I will check the ignorant party myself. I'm not playing these caveman games with people. It is 2009. If they can't accept people the way they are then they will have to deal with their ignorance in the privacy of their own home. Nobody should involve themselves in anybody's business. It was a hate crime and the men who did that should be brought to justice. It's time out for games.
One again, @ SWIV:
"...so because one crime resulted in death, and the other didn't, that makes it LESS of a hate crime? that's pretty piss poor logic right there. and the people who would use said logic don't belong on a jury because that ruling would show their inherent bias, prejudice and bigoted viewpoints."
***
Let's talk mechanics.
Actual human beings would be deciding this case. And they'll come to court with all their racial history in tow. Not a thirst for revenge .... just a slow, steady accumulation of the sort of race-infused history one owns when you're brown and living in America.
At some point, the question becomes this: where exactly is the inherent bias in declining a straight white male legal redress under a hate crime statute? Or, better put, where exactly might one find a detailed history of gruesome violence directed toward white males due solely to the color of their skin?
Since we both know no such catalogue exists, let's ask another question. If enough examples were found, who makes the argument to a potentially black-majority jury pool that it should cover this guy? What does the advocate for a conviction look like? A black prosecutor? A white female prosecutor? A black female prosecutor?
How likely is it that, hours into a deliberation--post final arguments--that at least one person in that pool has a serious issue with affording a straight, white American male his legal props under the cover of a hate crime's law?
And, mechanics-wise, any jury pool would have to have at least two or three African American's on it, given the dynamics of the case. The optics of an all white jury looking at a case like this would be a championship-caliber disaster.
Think about it.
For it to be categorized as a hate crime, there has to be some indication of intent. If the violence was a result of his interracial relationship, then it is truly sickening. I can't speak on the "community response", mostly because it's something that often gets confused with the media response.
lets look at the letter of the LAW. i don't believe anywhere in the law it states that in order to qualify for a hate crime, one must lost a body part. or one must lose a life. or one must be chained to a truck or hung from a tree. in nowhere are these "stipulation" stated in the legislation. nor does it state that because white people have perpetrated hate crimes against blacks for centuries that the converse is thus not true. the letter of the LAW states none of that.
if one cannot take into account the LAW itself, the definitions and the logic behind it, then they do not deserve to sit on a jury because they are inherently biased and prejudiced. quite possibly, a jury of majority blacks would not find this a hate crime. however, if the evidence points as such, then that jury of majority blacks did and do not have the best interest of the law and justice at heart and thus are not qualified to sit on a jury. i’d like to think that jury that is majority black would be able to take into account the law and justice. however, obviously you believe otherwise.
snobfanforeal
Your lack of faith in juries, and your analysis in general are on point.
Your analysis highlights something - I think you are correct that many in the black community think that hate crime legislation was solely for them. It's no surprise considering that a lot of politicians were running around black communities saying, "Look what I did for you, to protect you." I agree with you on how this case would play out with a jury.
There is a conundrum here. Hate crimes are often related to race, but in the justice system we are expected to apply them in a race neutral way. As in, a black victim and a white victim must be treated the same. The appellate types like to talk about legislative and factual history behind legislation or a law. In this area, the history that prompted this legislation was mostly about incidents like Mr. Byrd in Texas. This is twisted. We want to promote racial harmony, but one of our race-based protections may only be available to one race. Granted, the history is real - this white victim in Buffalo has probably never had anything like this happen in his family. But the old women from my old neighborhood could tell stories for days about similar things happening to black men. But shouldn't today's policies be about today's realities? Again we are twisted.
What is it we are trying to accomplish with hate crimes on the books? I think it is backward thinking and wrong - you should get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for bashing a man's head in, regardless of race.
What about me? I'm mixed. Consider:
Black guy stabs for gettin' with his woman, a white guy does the same. During the stabbings - the black man calls me cracker and the white man calls me mulatto. So do both get charged with a hate crime? Neither?
A mormon in Utah told me my church was a lie - I was going to hell and that he wanted me to get out of his state. I used the word mormon several times as I showed him my Ike Turner impression. Hate crime? Or is it the Hate Crime Defense?
I don't like hate crime designations and I hope my examples and snobfanforeal's jury analysis show some of you why they should be abandoned.
This is terrible.
If a Black woman wants to date a White guy or Asian, good luck to them. It really isn't anybody's business. This reminds me of an episode when I was with a female friend of mine, she is Black and her boyfriend is Asian. As we waited for a lift, a bunch of Asian guys walked past and started to abuse us all in their language and he is Asian and undertsood what they were saying. Another time, we were waiting in a Chinese restaurant for a table and a bunch of Black guys started to a give them both dirty looks and really glare at both of them, although they did not say anything.
I have also seen this happen when a Black guy is with a White girl and the Black guy has experienced verbal abuse from the White guys because he is with a White woman.
The way some people behave is as though people are their property or something. The fact is that some people need to mind their own business. If someone is going out with another person of an opposite race, that is who they want to be with. Sometimes, people just need to mind their own business, look away and stop poking their noses into other people's affairs...Geeeez!
Also, I find a lot of Black guys going out with White women, but these same guys will complain if they see a Black woman going out with a White man. This smells like a double standard to me. Some people need to mind their own business.
As far as White men dating or wanting to date Black women....I personally would say that White men love Balck women, although some of them like to pretend as if they don't. As a beautiful Black woman, I have seen a number of white guys trying to give me some signs or show interest or stop me in the street to talk to me and my sister, however, personally, I am not interested in going out with a White man. Not being racist, I have been out with a White person on one occasion, he was a really nice guy in every way, but it really is not for me. White guys are nice and everything, but I just could not face the unwanted attention from the public, the constant stares and glares from people of all races anytime we went out. We owuld go out and hold hands and people would look at us with interest, watching as though it was the latest soap opera on TV. We would sit on the underground/subway and talk and people would stare at us constantly, I found this to be extremely uncomfortable. I am a very private person. Let's just say I felt uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Also, I find that some White guys tend to think they are more superior, no matter how much they like you, it just appears as though they think they are more superior to Black and I certainly did nont like that. If we are going out, we have to be equals or nothing at all, thank you.
I just checked the post, sorry about the typos.
Because as I mentioned in my original post, juries are crazy and liable to do anything. It's best not to give them too much fuel to run amok with.
There's definitely a double standard when it comes to black women dating white men. The truth is: Most interracial couples are black men and white women (though more brothers are also dating Asian women). As a matter of fact, according to the U.S. Census, black men now marry women outside of their race more than ANY OTHER ETHNIC group. The message being sent is that brothers can date (and marry) whoever they want but we can ONLY be with a brother! That's just more of the bullsh** brothers have been feeding sisters daily to control us and "keep us in our place." But black women can either continue to believe that--and spend our lives ALONE or as one of the BABY MAMAS--or we can open up our eyes, minds and hearts and start dating men of other races regardless of the backlash. If I knew then what I know now, I would have started dating white men years ago! Hopefully, black folks will speak up and the men who committed this cowardly act will be punished to the fullest extent of the law!
This is absolutely a hate crime. The boys who did this need to go to jail. People shouldn't be tortured for who they love.
If the perpetrators of that horrible crime are not caught and punished, then the black community is breeding and nurturing another Dunbar Village
thanks for the clarification. saw a mention of this on the AOL news site that is my computer's homepage. It's getting the coverage it needs
It sure ain't an I love you crime.
Treated as a hate crime? HADES YES it should! The couple said they were harrassed by the men & boys of the neighborhood because they were together. Monie above made a good point. These Black men (as their White counterparts who have done the same exact thing)felt inadequate and out of control. And thats basically the roots of all bigotry.
PS--Great post Angela!
To answer the article's question I don't believe there is a double standard and I would say that I think that black women dating interracially is done with the same intensity as black men. This is evident in the fact that it's often promoted by black women in media outlets, like magazines for example.
As for as the severity of this crime I think it speaks for itself. I think it was horrible and I think that the perpretrators should be prosecuted with a hate crime as it appears the evidence bears that result. I heard about this incident through a co worker just today and was very disturbed by it. I heard of a previous incident some time ago involving a white Marine Sergeant and his black wife being killed by his black subordinates. It is obvious that this doesn't happen everyday but it does happen. And I am concerned with what would appear to be a growing number of black men who react with anger when black women date outside the race. It makes no sense. Many black women do not want to date black men period. Even if they were single they often would not want to be with a black man. I've met many black women who expressed this viewpoint for a variety of reasons from percieved black male intellectual inferority, laziness or inability to be the strong vocal point of a family. Regardless of their reasons there is no excuse for this.
As a black man I hope this sort of madness does not continue. My prayers go out to the family.
Hate crime? -Yes
Community and media not concerned? -Yes
I can relate to this story personally. As an Italian American dating a black woman, i've been put through some sh*t simply because of the woman I love. And not everyone may believe me but most all of it has come from black men! Ocassionally black women but for the most part they are understanding. What's crazy, and even my girlfriend will testify to this, is that we have never gotten problems from any white people. It seems that a lot of black men have a serious problem with us dating. Don't get me wrong, it isn't every black man, but it is suprising how many truly don't like it. I've been in serveral altercations and fights due to this (good thing daddy didn't raise a punk LOL). In all seriousness though, its just sad.
Wake up people!!! Our president is mixed, get used to it. If you are seriously upset over who someone else is dating then you need to fix something in your life. We all need to start f*cking each other and making babies so that we're all the same color. Maybe then people will evolve.
Thanks for reporting this story. I wish a speedy recovery to Brian and I hope this tragic event will only make he and Nicola's bond stronger.
The designation "hate crime" applies to penal laws where the punishment provision has been increased because of a finding of an additional mens rea requirement, namely, that of the crime being done for a socially-irresponsible motive, such as racial oppression. In other words, it is meant to shock the perpetrators by increasing their punishment because they acted out of a racist/sexist/homophobic/etc. motive, rather than out of simple personal animosity.
If, as the father alleges, the victim were beaten because he is white and in a relationship with a black woman, I believe this fits the definition of a "hate crime." While many of the exacerbating social factors are not present when the victim is white (e.g., the history of oppression and violence), it's still something we as society should judge as worse than a normal aggravated assault.
Hate crime is by definition when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation.
In other words, Hate crime is a hate crime and should be punished as thus.
If people are to be considered equal, then people need to be looked on equally--i.e. if white men do this to a black man for dating 'their race' it's a hate crime, why is it any different for the reversal...?
And I am not a fan of men claiming ownership of a female just because of her race and that she should follow their rules!
One of my friends is black and she's dated white and Asian guys before, and notices that when she walks around with her boyfriends she often gets angry looks from black men (not so much black women) or comments about what she's "trying to prove" by dating a non-black man. I feel like it's a classic situation of a combination of oppressions - not only racism, but also sexism - that it's seen as "uppity" for black women to date men of other races, or as though they somehow "belong" to the black community. By contrast, while there is still a lot of racism leveled at black men who date non-black women, it seems to be more accepted. Being men, they don't "belong" to anyone, but in our patriarchal society, women do. And frankly, it's ridiculous.
Even if the attackers are white if the reason was because of the victim dating a black girl then it is still a hate crime. The race of the perps doesn't matter.
its sick some of you are even questioning or trying to blame the white guy on this one. The girlfriend was THERE when it happened shes the one who told the father what had happened, secondly their have been previous engagements of harassment with the victim before, such as being shot with a paintball gun.
you think he was saying something to them? THEIR WERE 10-12 men there are you people insane?
This is a hate crime and should be treated as such!