Interracial relationships, the acid test of racism?

[James]

I am watching the movie "Something New" the other night and a piece of dialogue stuck out.

The female lead says she doesn't date white men, its a preference not a prejudice.

He replies, ITs your preference to be prejudiced?

The movie itself is about a black woman that starts dating a white man against her better judgement but falls in love with him.

So I thought about that piece of dialogue.

I mean if I am attracted to a member of another race but refuse to date her wouldn't that make me racist?

Lets make it even less easy to rationalize. Lets say the girl comes froma similar background and socio-economic status.

If I am attracted to her and won't date her, I guess that would make me a racist.

If I wouldn't date a girl that had less money, I would be a snob or elitist . . . but in this case the reason would be race.

I mean seriously, we can mouth all the platitudes in the world about our tolerance, about how we have friends from other races, and how race doesn't shouldn't matter.

But, the put up or shut up time might very well be when confronted with attraction to a member of another race . . . and then whether we decide to date them or not.

A sort of real life acid test of our convictions.

Anyone else have an opinion? If you are attracted to a member of another race and refuse to date them, are you not in fact racist?

I emphasize attraction because its hard to help who you are attracted to.