Race & Romance on the Apps: Navigating Interracial and Intraracial Love
Black Women's online dating experiences with Black men and men of other races
For generations, romantic opportunities were often shaped by who lived nearby, attended the same schools, worked in the same offices, or moved within the same social circles. Online dating changed that equation. With a few clicks, people can now meet potential partners across cities, states, and even countries—expanding possibilities far beyond traditional social boundaries.
For Black women, however, the digital dating landscape offers a particularly compelling story. Online dating platforms can open doors to a wider and more diverse pool of potential partners, including opportunities for interracial relationships that might be less accessible through everyday social networks. In many ways, dating sites promise a chance to look beyond the limitations of geography, demographics, and established social circles in the search for meaningful connection.
So, what happens when Black women focus specifically on dating Black men?
What about when they explore interracial dating?
How are these experiences different... or the same?
To break down this area of research, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Adeyinka-Skold, author of Dating in the Digital Age: Race, Gender, and Inequality. An Assistant Professor of Sociology at Loyola Marymount University and licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Adeyinka-Skold's research examines how inequalities that concern race, gender, and sexuality are produced, reproduced, and practiced in the process of searching for romantic relationships, particularly in the context of online dating. Her work has been featured on academic and nonacademic platforms, including the LaVerne Cox Show and Therapy for Black Girls.
To learn more about Dr. Adeyinka- Skold click here.
More Works by Dr. Adeyinka- Skold:
Dr. Sarah wants to update her research on dating in the digital age with more up-to-date interview data. If you are a Black woman between the ages of 25 and 35 who is college-educated, never married, and uses or has used apps, online dating, and/or social media to find romance, she wants to talk to you! Please complete the eligibility survey linked here if you are interested in being interviewed for the project! You can also email her at sarah.adeyinka-skold@lmu.edu for more information.
THIS PODCAST WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2026.
Season 3 Episode 16
Running Time: 40 minutes
