9 Things to Know Before You Get Your Swirl On

Here's how to navigate the world of interracial dating.

Get Your Swirl On - Last night, Mary Jane kissed her first white man. She may have felt like she “let the ancestors down,” but we are living in an era where interracial dating is becoming more popular and more accepted. If you are open to expanding your dating horizons, read this before you take the plunge. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: BET)

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Get Your Swirl On - Last night, Mary Jane kissed her first white man. She may have felt like she “let the ancestors down,” but we are living in an era where interracial dating is becoming more popular and more accepted. If you are open to expanding your dating horizons, read this before you take the plunge. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: BET)

Don’t Place White Men on Such a High Pedestal - Way too often we hear other Black women talk about how much better white men are than Black men — better listeners, better providers, better fathers, better partners, etc. Dating outside your race shouldn’t be about how your own race is inferior. Don't believe the "all men are the same" BS. Date the guy that makes you happy.  (Photo: Rob Lewine/Tetra Images/Corbis)

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Don’t Place White Men on Such a High Pedestal - Way too often we hear other Black women talk about how much better white men are than Black men — better listeners, better providers, better fathers, better partners, etc. Dating outside your race shouldn’t be about how your own race is inferior. Don't believe the "all men are the same" BS. Date the guy that makes you happy.  (Photo: Rob Lewine/Tetra Images/Corbis)

The World May Not Be as Progressive as You Think - Even in our post-Obama, Olivia and Fitz World, we all know that racism is still alive and well. Prepare yourself for potential backlash, but be strong in your relationship and with yourself. If you are truly happy, everyone who loves you will be happy for you. (Photo: Tom Merton/Getty Images)

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The World May Not Be as Progressive as You Think - Even in our post-Obama, Olivia and Fitz World, we all know that racism is still alive and well. Prepare yourself for potential backlash, but be strong in your relationship and with yourself. If you are truly happy, everyone who loves you will be happy for you. (Photo: Tom Merton/Getty Images)

You Are Not Any Less Black - Sometimes you may need to remind yourself  of this when people make comments about how your non-Black boo diminishes your sense of pride — or that you are bad for not wanting to create “strong Black children.” Who you are with is not necessarily a reflection on how you feel about yourself as a Black woman. (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

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You Are Not Any Less Black - Sometimes you may need to remind yourself  of this when people make comments about how your non-Black boo diminishes your sense of pride — or that you are bad for not wanting to create “strong Black children.” Who you are with is not necessarily a reflection on how you feel about yourself as a Black woman. (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis

Don’t Let Him Fetishize You - Be very aware of why someone wants to date you. If they say things like, “Oh, I just love Black women’s [fill in th blank]” or “I’ve never had sex with a Black woman before, but I’ve always wanted to…” Girl, run away. (Photo: Tony Anderson/Corbis)

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Don’t Let Him Fetishize You - Be very aware of why someone wants to date you. If they say things like, “Oh, I just love Black women’s [fill in th blank]” or “I’ve never had sex with a Black woman before, but I’ve always wanted to…” Girl, run away. (Photo: Tony Anderson/Corbis)

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What Are His Racial Politics? - Whether he is white, Asian, Latino, etc., it is important to have conversations about his racial politics, specifically how he feels about Black people. If he has negative things to say and then says things like, “But I’m not talking about you, you’re not like that,” throw those deuces because he won’t change. (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

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What Are His Racial Politics? - Whether he is white, Asian, Latino, etc., it is important to have conversations about his racial politics, specifically how he feels about Black people. If he has negative things to say and then says things like, “But I’m not talking about you, you’re not like that,” throw those deuces because he won’t change. (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

Are You Ready to Be Open to His Culture? - Yes, he has a lot to learn about you, but you also have a lot to learn about him. You have to make the effort in learning about his culture as well in order to build a stronger relationship. So, if you are with someone who practices a different religion or if he/she is from a different country, you have to put in the extra work as well. (Photo: Tim Pannell/Corbis)

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Are You Ready to Be Open to His Culture? - Yes, he has a lot to learn about you, but you also have a lot to learn about him. You have to make the effort in learning about his culture as well in order to build a stronger relationship. So, if you are with someone who practices a different religion or if he/she is from a different country, you have to put in the extra work as well. (Photo: Tim Pannell/Corbis)

You Might Wanna Find Some Other Interracial Couples - Be open to scoping out some other interracial couples like yours to roll with for some moral support. Sometimes the best people to ask for advice are those who are going through similar experiences as you. (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

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You Might Wanna Find Some Other Interracial Couples - Be open to scoping out some other interracial couples like yours to roll with for some moral support. Sometimes the best people to ask for advice are those who are going through similar experiences as you. (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis

Set Boundaries With Family and Friends - As stated before, not everyone is OK with interracial dating — this may include your own friends and family. So have a talk with them about boundaries and what you will and won’t tolerate.  (Photo: Image Source/GettyImages)

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Set Boundaries With Family and Friends - As stated before, not everyone is OK with interracial dating — this may include your own friends and family. So have a talk with them about boundaries and what you will and won’t tolerate.  (Photo: Image Source/GettyImages)

Interracial Dating May Not Be for You - What works for some may not work for others. If you find that dating a non-Black person isn’t for you and that you prefer to be with someone Black, then that’s OK, too. It’s good to try out new things and find out what you want for sure. (Photo: Skip ODonnell/GettyImages)

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Interracial Dating May Not Be for You - What works for some may not work for others. If you find that dating a non-Black person isn’t for you and that you prefer to be with someone Black, then that’s OK, too. It’s good to try out new things and find out what you want for sure. (Photo: Skip ODonnell/GettyImages)

Love Is Love - In the end, regardless of who you end up with, always keep in mind that love is love. And be happy with the one you are with! (Photo: Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/cultura/Corbis)

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Love Is Love - In the end, regardless of who you end up with, always keep in mind that love is love. And be happy with the one you are with! (Photo: Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/cultura/Corbis)