When I walk through the underground roads of downtown Houston, I see a really diverse range of couples.

Tall white men with petite Asian women, Hispanic men and white women who are the mainstream in Texas (this group often doesn't feel out of place; many who appear to be white are actually of Hispanic descent), and strong-looking black men with Latina women, among others. Since I first came to America, I was fascinated by the mixed-race couples and their babies, but now I'm so used to it that I think, "Oh, another mixed baby is on the way."

However, there is one combination that is particularly hard to find: black women with men of other races.

Black women next to white men... that's quite rare. If they are seen together, it's likely that the man has cultural influences from Italian or Spanish descent.

And black women next to Asian men? I can hardly recall seeing that. Hispanic men and black women? Well... I can count the instances on one hand.

This isn't just because they are not visually prominent; statistics from couple matching websites say the same.

Statistically, black women are the group that dates the least with men of other races.

Conversely, the most common interracial combination is white men and Asian women. This has become a well-known 'American dating formula.'

So, what about Asian men?

As an Asian man myself, I've been watching this closely. In fact, until the 1990s, Asian men had a very low presence in the American dating market. They were hardly seen in movies, and when they were, they were always martial artists or nerds. Additionally, they were often portrayed as unable to approach women. Naturally, this led to a low probability of dating across races.

However, the atmosphere changed dramatically after the 2000s. Asian men began to work on their physiques, pay attention to fashion, and improve their social skills. Whether it was influenced by K-dramas or K-pop, Asian men are now starting to be seen as cool and attractive partners in America.

Now, it's not uncommon to see couples of Asian men with Latina women or Asian men with white women.

But still, the rarest combination remains black women and men of other races. Why is that?

First of all, it is likely influenced by America's long history of race and prejudice. Black women are often perceived as strong and independent, which can feel burdensome to some men. Especially for men raised in traditional Asian cultures, that strength may appear 'relatively' rough.

Another issue is media representation.

There are almost no movies or dramas featuring black women and white men as the main couple. If something is not visible in popular culture, it feels unfamiliar in reality. Ultimately, it leads to the inability to even conceive the 'possibility' of such a pairing. In contrast, the combination of white men and Asian women is easily found in movies, dramas, commercials, and YouTube. What is familiar is easier to act upon.

And there's this as well. Some black women preemptively draw the line with men of other races, thinking, "He probably won't be interested in me." This could be a form of defense mechanism to protect themselves. On the other hand, there is still a cultural expectation within the black community that they should be with black men. This can be both a source of pride and an unspoken pressure.

In the end, is race really a problem in love?

The reality is not so. We seem to live in an 'open dating market,' but in fact, everyone has their own walls.

However, walls can be broken down. Just as Asian men have changed, American society is slowly changing as well.

Our generation is witnessing this change firsthand. In fact, futurists claim that by the year 2100, society will be composed of mixed-race individuals without racial distinctions.

So, if someone reads this in 2100, I hope they will say, 'What kind of old story is this?'