(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – It’s been the topic of many conversations, books and movies. Celebrities flaunt it around for all to see and it was once one of the most taboo topics in history – interracial dating.

It was nearly 50 years ago to date that Mildred and Richard Loving stood before a judge, pleading guilty to marrying each other. Richard, a white male, had married Mildred, a black female, and both were criminally charged under a Virginia statute that banned interracial marriage. The crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, was infamously scrutinized and the case was brought to the attention of the Supreme Court in 1967. After much deliberation, the Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the Lovings and deemed anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional.

Fast-forwarding to today, people from different ethnicities, religions and even the same gender are allowed to freely love whomever they want, without facing persecution from outsiders. Interracial dating has become less of a taboo topic in today’s society and has become a typical action.

“I love me a white man,” said Cynthia Morgan, a third-year political science student at Florida A&M University. “It’s just something about a white male that attracts me to them. I’ve dated white men for the past four years and have no plans on going back.”

Research conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that within the past 20 years, interracial relationships have jumped eleven percent, totaling nearly 61,000 new marriages.

William Zelgers, a psychiatrist and certified relationship therapist at Tallahassee’s New Wealth Clinic, believes that people are more apt to explore different races due to an urge to satisfy their curiosity.

“As more and more people date outside of their race, then more and more people realize that it’s both refreshing and calming,” said Zeglers. “Interracial dating allows people to try something that society normally frowns upon and opens up the doors to something new and exciting.”

Though the majority of Americans are supportive of interracial dating, nearly 4 percent are against it, according to the Survelum Public Data Bank.

“To me, I just feel as though people need to stick with their own race,” said DeDrick Mitchell, a fourth-year criminal justice student. “It’s not that I don’t trust the outside race but when it comes to two people wanting to help build up the race, it’s only right for them to marry someone from their descent.”