In recent years, there’s been a resurgence and emphasis on “Black Love." From a 10,000 foot view, we can view Black celebrity couples, such as Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Ciara and Russell Wilson, Cardi B and Offset, Remy Ma and Papoose, Michelle and Barack Obama, and others, and sculpt our own marriages and relationships on what we visualize as perfection. The truth is that looks can be deceiving, and publicized infidelity and entanglements make some of these couples less than ideal for emulating. 

So we will examine precisely what is the key to healthy and successful marriages. What led to the decline of the Black family and marriage? As Black marriage is on a steady decline, how do younger Black people find these examples if they don’t know many people in their own lives who have healthy marriages? Did older Black generations have the key to success figured out? 

Does the success of Black people and culture lay within Black marriages and Black love? Tune into this episode as we explore the history and evolution of Black love and marriage. 

We’d love to hear your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions on what you’d like to hear for future episodes. Shoot us a note at 2beesinthetrap@gmail.com. 

Hive Mind

Recommended readings and resources:

• All About Love by bell hooks
• The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida
• Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone by Ralph Richard Banks
• Black Women, Black Love: America's War on African American Marriage by Dianne M. Stewart
• James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni, a Conversation
• Shahrazad Ali