Alienation and Isolation in Interracial Marriages in East Tennessee.

• Main Author: Morris, Sheila Dianne
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2003
• Subjects: East Tennessee; interracial marriages; isolation; alienation; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/808; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1965&context=etd

I conducted this study to determine if African American men and women who marry white men and women in East Tennessee perceive experiences of isolation and alienation from their families and friends as a result of their selection of a mate from a race other than the one into which they were born. I interviewed ten individuals who are or have been interracially married. As a result of my research, I found that my results compare favorably with those of scholarly studies that discovered alienation and isolation among interracial couples. I used descriptive research methods to analyze a segment of the Appalachian population, with literature reviews of related material and in-depth interviews conducted with subjects in the East Tennessee area. My study allowed the subjects to discuss their perceptions and feelings of being a part of this growing interracial population in East Tennessee.