Black Love

The Qualities We Love Most: What Black Men and Women Appreciate in Each Other

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Happy Black Love Day {2/13} and Happy Valentine’s Day {2/14}!  In honor of all the love in the air—and to help counter some of the negative messages we too often hear about dating and relationship dynamics between Black women and men—let’s turn our attention to something more affirming: the qualities we genuinely appreciate in one […]

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Am I Ready for This? Black Men and the Real Talk on Marriage

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“Am I man enough?” That’s the question at the heart of many conversations about marriage among Black men today. We’ve all heard the stories and seen the posts: marriage rates in the Black community are declining, and countless theories about why have been debated in barbershops, living rooms, and online spaces. But rarely do we

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Black Men Speak: What Encourages and Discourages the Decision to Marry

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At the DC Relationship Education Center, I often hear a common question from Black women: “What makes a man decide to marry?” It’s an important question, especially when we consider how being ready for marriage can positively shape its outcome. Add to that the reality that many marriageable Black men prefer to keep their options

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Are Black Men Still the Protectors and Providers? Let’s Talk Hybrid Masculinity

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Imagine sitting down with your girlfriends after a long day of work. You’re swapping dating stories and marriage dreams, and inevitably, someone says, “Girl, I need a man who can handle business, who can protect and provide.” Heads nod in agreement around the table, until one friend asks, “But do men actually protect and provide?”

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Black, Educated, and Dating: Navigating the Realities of a Limited Dating Pool

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If you’re an educated Black woman seeking love, you’ve likely heard or even said it yourself: “The struggle is real!” And it’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s backed by research. In a study by Chesmore Montique (2017), titled The Struggle is Real: The Dating Dilemma for Educated Black Women Interested in Educated Black Men, the

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What Makes Someone Marriageable? Exploring Expectations Among Educated Black Singles

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When it comes to dating, relationships, and especially marriage, expectations play a big role. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What exactly makes someone marriageable?” If you’re nodding along, you’re definitely not alone. For Black men and women navigating the dating scene, especially with college degrees in hand, this question hits differently. Let’s

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Love Isn’t Always Enough: Premarital Work That Strengthens Black Marriages

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Once a relationship progresses to engagement, I begin guiding couples through premarital education, preparation, and planning. This stage is often the most uncomfortable and the most necessary. The romantic love that brought the couple this far doesn’t disappear, but it begins to share space with other, more complex aspects of partnership. Decision-making, finances, routines, family

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Special 06: 2023 “Black Love” Wrapped

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Special 06: 2023 “Black Love” Wrapped   Join me and my co-host, Kaity Rodriguez as we share our takes on ten unforgettable “Black Love” moments in 2023, including Rihanna’s pregnancy announcement, Eboni K’s partner preference and elitism, and Kerry Washington’s tenth anniversary.     Kaity and I are manifesting our “Oprah & Gayle” energy for

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The Kind of Love That Black Women Make: Revisiting the Color Purple

2 Comments / Black Love, Womanhood /

The Kind of Love That Black Women Make   I have come to understand that women who have not learned to truly love themselves, and then love each other, struggle in their personal lives, and have difficulty positively and powerfully loving men and being loved by them. I am interested in exploring the impact of

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