same 'race' partners

[ninetofive]

I don't think it's been explicitly stated, but my understanding is that 24th century humans are 'superior' to us, in that they are not bigoted (not homophobic, sexist or racist etc.). But it strikes me as odd that both Ben Sisko's wives are black/mulatto, and so is Fenna, his love interest in 'Second Sight' (although she's 'Halanan'). Both of his father's wives were black/mulatto also. And in 'The Visitor', Jake's future wife is also black/mulatto (althought she's 'Bajoran').
Furthermore, (although this is outside the scope of this forum) Tuvok's wife is also black. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but it seems like it was a conscious decision by the writers, not just coincidence.
What gives? The Sisko men seem to be only attracted to women of the same 'race'.

 

[Kegek]

What gives? The Sisko men seem to be only attracted to women of the same 'race'.

And on the other hand, there was the Bajoran girl, Mardah, that Jake Sisko went out with. And both she and Fenna were aliens; a far more significant difference than one of skin colour.

In any event; I think we can presume that racial considerations in Star Trek's future don't enter into their thinking at all. Sisko had a romance with some ethnically African women, as did his father. But they wouldn't feel obligated to also have had a relationship with a Caucasian woman or an Aldebaran tree sloth just to increase their diversity points. They follow their hearts and that's that.

 

[Deckerd]

There are plenty of inter-racial relationships, both real (in the human sense) and fictional. Worf springs to mind immediately.

 

[STIntergalactic]

I don't think being attracted to one race is bigoted in any way. It's just a matter of physical attraction, and you can't really control that.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

There are plenty of inter-racial relationships, both real (in the human sense) and fictional. Worf springs to mind immediately.

Agreed.

 

[Sci]

I don't think it's been explicitly stated, but my understanding is that 24th century humans are 'superior' to us, in that they are not bigoted (not homophobic, sexist or racist etc.). But it strikes me as odd that both Ben Sisko's wives are black/mulatto, and so is Fenna, his love interest in 'Second Sight' (although she's 'Halanan'). Both of his father's wives were black/mulatto also. And in 'The Visitor', Jake's future wife is also black/mulatto (althought she's 'Bajoran').

1) Are you aware that the term "mulatto" is fairly offensive? "Biracial" would be better.

2) Why does that matter? Why do black characters need to have white sexual partners? I don't see anyone complaining that most of Kirk's sexual partners were white or had complexions similar to European Humans, or that Picard's sexual partners were all white, or that Janeway's sexual partners were almost all white.

The fact is that sexual attraction by characters of one ethnicity or apparent ethnicity to other members or apparent members of that ethnicity is a consistent pattern in Star Trek. The fact is also that sexual attraction between different ethnicities or apparent ethnicities is a consistent pattern in Star Trek -- Worlf/Jadzia, Bashir/Ezri, O'Brien/Keiko, Kim/every women he was ever with, Paris/B'Ellana (whose Human father was apparently Latino), Worf/Troi.

 

[Navaros]

The Sisko banged Mirror Dax, under creepy false pretenses even (which indicated he musta wanted to really badly...).

Kinda takes some wind out of the OP's theory's sails IMO.

 

[Hofner]

Don't forget Geordi having a thing for Leah Brahms.

Robert

 

[STIntergalactic]

And Lutan had a thing for Yar in CoH.

 

[Sci]

And Lutan had a thing for Yar in CoH.

Erm, "Code of Honor" is probably the most disgustingly racist episode of Star Trek ever produced, though...

 

[Michael]

And Lutan had a thing for Yar in CoH.

Erm, "Code of Honor" is probably the most disgustingly racist episode of Star Trek ever produced, though...

Yep.

 

[STIntergalactic]

Perhaps you're right, that may not be the best example.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Sisko men seem to be only attracted to women of the same 'race'.

What's wrong with that? People vary widely on the topic of what they consider physically attractive, but an individual person might have extremely specific tastes. It's not subject to political correctness considerations because such things are inherently illogical and have nothing to do with rationality.

 

[STIntergalactic]

The Sisko men seem to be only attracted to women of the same 'race'.

What's wrong with that? People vary widely on the topic of what they consider physically attractive, but an individual person might have extremely specific tastes. It's not subject to political correctness considerations because such things are inherently illogical and have nothing to do with rationality.

Thank you, that's a much better way of putting what I was trying to say in my first post in this thread.

 

[-Brett-]

I don't think it's been explicitly stated, but my understanding is that 24th century humans are 'superior' to us, in that they are not bigoted (not homophobic, sexist or racist etc.). But it strikes me as odd that both Ben Sisko's wives are black/mulatto, and so is Fenna, his love interest in 'Second Sight' (although she's 'Halanan'). Both of his father's wives were black/mulatto also. And in 'The Visitor', Jake's future wife is also black/mulatto (althought she's 'Bajoran').

What I think is odd is how people routinely bring this up with Sisko, but Picard's, Janeway's, and Archer's romantic interests were all white/caucasian, and no one seems to notice.

Anyway, being attracted to black or white or brown is no more discriminatory than being attracted to blondes or redheads or brunettes.

 

[Deckerd]

"A bluebird is going to be attracted to another bluebird"
Muhammad Ali

 

[Triskelion]

These things seem to matter to everyone except the lovers in question. When will people learn how to live beyond our races?

 

[Red Ranger]

You know, I applaud those of you who pointed out that the partners of the other lead characters in ST -- Kirk, Picard, Janeway, even Archer -- tended to have romantic liaisons with "Caucasian" characters. So if that's not a big deal, why should it matter if Sisko partners with women whose skin color is closer to his?

I do want to point out something I read about Avery Brooks in this regard. I believe he insisted that any romantic partners he was with be of African-American descent. Hence, not only Jennifer, but Fenna and Cassidy Yates were of that "persuasion." I believe his philosophy behind it was to show healthy relations between African-American characters as role models, as there are some negative connotations behind interracial relations in the U.S., as well as positive ones. And I believe it was also his way to combat the stereotype of the broken family in his community.

I myself have been involved in interracial relationships. I'm Latino, but can "pass" for white, and while most of my partners have been Latina, I have also dated Anglos and African-Americans. Variety is the spice of life and romance, but I don't begrudge someone's choices in that area. It's their business, for crying out loud!

Red Ranger

 

[Red Ranger]

I don't think it's been explicitly stated, but my understanding is that 24th century humans are 'superior' to us, in that they are not bigoted (not homophobic, sexist or racist etc.). But it strikes me as odd that both Ben Sisko's wives are black/mulatto, and so is Fenna, his love interest in 'Second Sight' (although she's 'Halanan'). Both of his father's wives were black/mulatto also. And in 'The Visitor', Jake's future wife is also black/mulatto (althought she's 'Bajoran').

What I think is odd is how people routinely bring this up with Sisko, but Picard's, Janeway's, and Archer's romantic interests were all white/caucasian, and no one seems to notice.

Anyway, being attracted to black or white or brown is no more discriminatory than being attracted to blondes or redheads or brunettes.

Brett:

Generally, this is true. In my case, I'm just attracted to women, period. I'm an equal opportunity dater!

Red Ranger

 

[Nerys Myk]

Didn't Archer hook up with Erika Hernandez?