Falling Black in Love

Black love in America is an utter act of resistance in a country that is committed to destroying not only the Black family structure, but Black identity. In the midst of oppression, in the midst of exploitation, in the midst of prejudice, there is love.

According to Black Demographics the percentage of married couples leading Black families (27%) is only slightly less than that of single-parent households (34%). This is a sharp difference from the statistics of 1983 published in the New York Times in which half of Black families are headed by single women, and 55 percent of black babies were born to unmarried women.

Although members of the Reagan administration claimed the welfare system caused this destruction of the Black family structure due to high dependence on social welfare programs, this perception requires a complete dismissal of the hundreds of years of oppression, exploitation, inaccessibility to quality education, and other social violations which have plagued the Black community. Reagan's administration had been committed to destroying the economic support provided through social programs as they threatened White supremacy. This administration lowered the poverty threshold, halted construction of subsidized housing, and cut back on social programs in an effort to minimize economic assistance available.

White Supremacy has committed itself to the destruction of Black love, as it stood as a threat to oppression. Despite best intentions, these efforts have only made Black love stronger, and multi-faceted. They attempted destroy Black love through the blatant exploitation and destruction of Black bodies in Slavery, but we found ways to share our love anyways. They attempted to destroy Black love through Jim Crow, and yet Black love persisted. In this New Jim Crow era the Black community continues to resist injustice, oppression, and prejudice.

The breakdown of the Black family unit, and poverty play hand in hand to the disadvantages faced in the Black community. As Black men are targeted, pushed through the school to prison pipeline, and murdered on the streets in the name of "Self-Defense", Black women continue to love them and fight for justice.

Black Media has allowed the Black community to remain united in love despite external forces which attempt to drive us apart. Black artists, writers, directors, and thinkers have found innovative ways to not only show Black love, but encourage it even when there seems to be nothing left to hold on to. Although we do not all come from two-parent households, or even see thriving marriages in our immediate family, the Black community cherishes the representations of Black love which exist on television, and in real life.

President Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle stand as true testaments to the strength and power of Black love. Other famed couples like Beyonce and Jay Z, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, even Ice Cube and Kimberly, show that Black love transcends all. Huff post published a list of 24 Beautiful Couples who exemplify Black Love, and shares advice from each couple. The best advice is to understand that every relationship is different, and that true success in any relationship is determined by how committed both partners are in continuing even when it hurts. A commitment to understanding even when things do not make sense, and loving even when it is difficult, is the key to the survival of Black love.

"Love is divine only and difficult always. If you think it is easy you are a fool. If you think it is natural you are blind." -Toni Morrison