In this article from The Ethicist, a straight white male recent college graduate grapples with the ethics of prioritizing dating women of color as a means of advancing his antiracist beliefs. He expresses that he views cross-cultural relationships as an opportunity to combat racism and expose himself to diverse perspectives. However, the Ethicist cautions against conflating interracial dating with genuine cross-cultural engagement, warning that viewing relationships as educational experiences can be reductive and transactional. Ultimately, he encourages the reader to approach dating with openness and authenticity instead of treating potential partners as instruments for self-improvement.

Key Points:

• The author is a straight white man seeking meaningful relationships and prioritizing women of color in hopes of combatting racism.
• He believes interracial relationships can help challenge implicit biases formed in a predominantly white environment.
• The Ethicist warns against using relationships as a tool for personal growth and stresses the importance of genuine connection over educational experiences.
• Conflating dating with antiracist activism may risk reducing partners to mere means of achieving one's goals.
• Authenticity and openness in relationships are emphasized over treating them as opportunities for self-optimizing or checking boxes.
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