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Consider all the weddings in recent weeks: Alicia Keys tied the knot with her producer-beau Swizz Beatz, wearing a pretty Grecian gown that covered her baby bump. After a five-year engagement, basketball player Carmelo Anthony and television personality La La Vazquez finally sealed the deal during a star-studded New York City ceremony. Rapper T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, who have two children, celebrated their much-anticipated wedding with three receptions. And then there's Martin Lawrence, who wed girlfriend Shamicka Gibbs last month; DJ Jazzy Jeff and his new bride Lynette Jackson; and Boston Celtic Paul Pierce, who recently married sweetheart Julie Landrum.
These celebrity weddings could have a positive effect on African Americans, who are less likely than any other group in the United States to get married. Dr. Shane Perrault, marriage counselor and African American relationships expert, told Black Voices that high-profile black marriages like Barack and Michelle Obama's are good for the community.
Statistics show that in recent decades, marriage has been anything but trendy in the black community. African Americans are less likely than any other group in the United States to get married. According to the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative, while 76 percent of all American families are headed by a married couple, only 47 percent of African American families are. And a whopping 68 percent of African American babies are born to single mothers.
Marriage is an important institution to promote, said Perrault, because of the financial, emotional and cultural stability it provides, especially when there are children involved. Of the recent celebrities who got married, many have children or are expecting.
So why is the black marriage rate so much lower than other groups? Perrault doesn't pretend to know the full answer to that question. But there's hope in the marriages that are making the news lately.
"The Obamas have put in the forefront a different model," he said. "I think that it's resonating. I think when you see T.I. and other artists starting to get married, that validates marriage. It's extremely important."
Beautiful Black Love
Recording artist John Legend (R) and Christine Teigen attend the Intermix Summer Rooftop concert at Skylight West on August 4, 2010 in New York City.
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian attend Power Balance Goes "All-In For A Cure" at Drai's Hollywood on August 3, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Terry Crews and Rebecca Crews attend "The Expendables" Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on August 3, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian attend the Casio "Shock the World" event at The Manhattan Center on August 2, 2010 in New York City.
(L-R) The Dream and Christina Millian attend Grey Goose Entertainment And BET's "Rising Icons" at 1OAK on July 27, 2009 in New York City.
Actors Will Smith (L) and wife Jada Pinkett Smith (R) attend "The Karate Kid" film premiere at Le Grand Rex on July 25, 2010 in Paris, France.
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys attend the Art For Life East Hampton 11th Annual Benefit at Russell Simmons' East Hampton Estate on July 24, 2010 in East Hampton, New York.
Christine Teigen and John Legend attend the Art For Life East Hampton 11th Annual Benefit hosted by Anthony Anderson at Russell Simmons' East Hampton Estate on July 24, 2010 in East Hampton, New York.
Actor Terry Crews and wife Jessica attend the IGN Celebrates "The Expendables" Comic-Con party held at the Float at the Hard Rock San Diego on July 22, 2010 in San Diego, California.
Actress Gabrielle Union and Basketball Player Dwyane Wade attend Summer Groove All-Star Basketball Game at American Airlines Arena on July 18, 2010 in Miami, Florida.
Comments: (21)
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By: Greg Dragon on 8/05/2010 5:48PM
This article is a bit condescending, I would hope that grown, professional people view celebrities as celebrities and not gods to mold their lives after. For me and people I know, these people marrying are none of our business, hell I would be willing to bet that more people are counting down the days till they divorce that they are celebrating their union. We as a people are a minority in this country yet these numbers always try to assume that we make up 50% of the whole. It's all bull and it doesn't help us one bit.
http://hobdragon.com
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By: juana on 8/06/2010 9:40PM
..The females are either half white or hispanic. So my question is.....What does this have to do with black marriages?
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By: Mrs. Banks on 8/05/2010 7:17PM
Well, it is my hope that these marriages last, but helps the Black community, how? If one takes a good look at these marriages, it is my opinion, that none of them are anything to shout and pop champagne over. I am not saying all of us are perfect, for none of us are, but as a married woman, one goal I did stick to was, if he wasn't good enough for me to want to marry, I certainly wasn't going to get pregnant by him. In each of these cases, the cart came before the horse and again, in my opinion, that happens far too often in our community. Yes, these men FINALLY stepped up, but wow. I'm just gonna leave this alone.
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By: KH on 8/06/2010 10:25AM
I agree with this comment, ALL of these couples had babies before marriage, exactly what positive message is being sent to out to our people? It's ok to have kids first then years later we'll get married? In my opinion, T.I. didn't seem to interested in marriage when he appeared on the Larry King show (after being released) and Larry asked why he hadn't married Tiny yet he responded "It's like we already married", how ignorant! I just hope this way of thinking doesn't continue to spread like a plague amongst our Black men especially the ones who look up to theses celebrities and women who accept just being "wifey".
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By: ydonkyu on 8/07/2010 6:06AM
I love this , So does My boyfriend . he is a black man.i met him via
-- BlackwhiteKissing . C- 0- M . It gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive interracial singles and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.
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By: Ellie on 8/05/2010 7:47PM
I doubt that these marriages help the Black community at all.
First off, the majority of us realize that the lives of these people have nothing to do with our daily lives;these folks might be interesting but their actions have little or no effect our daily lives.
Secondly, even if we were selecting celebs to admire, these people haven't been together long enough to be held up as examples of good, enduring marriages that would encourage marriage. And, also why would we choose as a good examples a woman who gets pregnant with a man who was still married to his wife(a woman who apparently has no self-respect) and a man who apparently has no respect for the vows he had already taken and apparently no respect for the mother of his children. What makes him more likely to keep his vows this time?He has already shown that he won't keep promises and if he/she will screw around with you, they will screw around on you. Why would he respect this marriage any more than he did the first?Future actions are usually predicted by past actions.
Thirdly,celebs and other famous people,Black and White, should be allowed a personal life in which they don't have to worry about being examples to rudderless people who are lacking in moral guidance and who don't have their own lives to live.
Whether famous people and celebs get married or not is no business of ours and we certainly should not be using these people as examples in marriage or any other facet our lives.
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By: walt on 8/06/2010 2:30PM
I agree. If anything, celebrity marriages are the WORST example of marriage. The institution of marriage comes from God and God only. We should look to His ways and not the worldly ways of man.
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By: mswll4 on 8/05/2010 10:55PM
LAUREN WILLIAMS, Write about something more important, besides who cares if a celeb decides to marry,DAMMED.
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By: EB on 8/06/2010 10:01AM
I agree that we have more important things to discuss than celebrity weddings and marriages.
In addition, Black people don't need a "model" for maaruage and since you mentioned the President and Mrs. Obama, I wonder whether or not he married her for political expediency, and it seems to me that she would not have planned her vacation in Spain during the same week of his birthday if they were so lovey dovey. What's up with that?
Please don't try to tell Black people how or who to marry. In fact, its none of anyone's business-not yours or mine.
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By: The Rose on 8/06/2010 10:58AM
Starting to wonder why the majority of Black Voices articles are more of degrading Black people rather than glorification. Its plainly obvious of who is publishing this segment. Dont let the negative be your influence people. Be careful of what is said and read. even though you cant see it, it doesnt mean that it is not there. Hate comes in all forms.
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