Another area of sensitivity involves black people dating white people. Although it is done to some extent by black women, dating outside of the race is primarily done by black men. Before the sixties, few black men risked dating outside of the race but with the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement many liberal northern white women went south to participate. This eventually led to interracial romances. There are many reasons that try to explain the attraction between black males and white females. One of the reasons may be that black males feel a sense of dominance when dating white females because they have captured the "ultimate prize" of white society. Another reason may be the old opposites attract scenario. And, other reasons may be that since white women were off limits to black men for so long that when they did become available some black men took full advantage of it or that black men felt it was owed to them for the many years that white men had taken advantage of black women. Whatever the reasons are, and there probably are many, it has caused a severe rift among the black male and female population.

Black on black, or intraracial, discrimination has had a profound effect on the identity of black people. In "Color Complex" it states that "Black identity is a multifaceted and in some ways [an indistinct] concept. Being black affects the way a person walks and talks, his or her values, culture, and history, how that person relates to others and how they relate to him or her. It is governed by one's early social experience, history and politics, conscious input and labeling, and the genetic accident that dictates external appearance. Skin color appears to affect identity, but in complex and seemingly unpredictable ways."

Black children early in life are aware that they are different from other children, and in a society dominated by white people, they are exposed more to the beauty of that culture than of their own. From dolls to magazines, the perfect image they see most of the time is a white one. Studies by Kenneth and Mamie Clark showed just how much of an influence white society has had on black children. The Clark's gave black children as young as three a choice of playing with a white doll or a black doll. The result was that nearly all the black children selected white dolls and when they were asked why they did, most said, " 'The white doll seems nicer and prettier, with better coloring.' " As black children grow older, they eventually turn towards their own culture but usually with a certain amount of confusion.

Light-skinned black people also have an identity crisis. Because of their color, black boys are often teased about not being black enough. To prove others wrong, they often exaggerate their masculinity by acting tougher and more streetwise than they actually are. Light-skinned girls do not have it any easier. They are often called "Black American Princess" and accused of thinking they are better than everyone else. They too have to act tough to get accepted by darker-skinned girls.