Go after who you like. I think that one of the ways to fight racism is to follow your heart so to speak. It is hard enough for anyone to make good and long lasting friends or relationships, why let other peoples racism stop you from making friends of any race? The more people you include, the more potential friends/partners you have to choose from.
I live in the south too. I have seen first hand the way people treat my sister and her African American husband, and my biracial nephew, simply because of race. We aspies tend to have a harder time "getting" cultural things of any kind, but overall I think you should just follow your heart. All women are beautiful.