Marriage activists in hundreds of communities around the country will highlight the benefits of married life and offer celebrations to strengthen and promote the institution in the Black community.
From a free dinner program in Washington, D.C., to several events in Dallas to a movie premier in Wichita of “Men Ain’t Boys” by Lamar and Ronnie Tyler to an evening in Detroit at the Charles Wright Museum to dancing lessons in Boston; organizations, groups and families are taking the time to spotlight couples in the Black community who are “Married and Proud of It.”
Wedded Bliss Foundation is also encouraging local Black Marriage Day sponsors across the country to involve singles and youth in their Black Marriage Day events on Sunday March 27, and these include film festivals, workshops, conferences, marriage vow renewals and much more.
HALO: Helping Angelenos Live Optimistic is the lead organization for L.A.’s Healthy Marriage Initiative, working with couples, singles, adults, children and families by providing resources, services and education regarding relationships, marriage preparation, parenting, family and marriage enhancement and sustainability.
HALO will help Los Angeles celebrate Black marriage this Saturday by hosting an award ceremony and kick-off rally at the Museum of African American Art at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza.
Admission is free to the public. The ceremony honors couples that have sustained their marriages (some as long as 60 years) and have played significant roles in their families and as community contributors.
For more information visit www.lahalo.org.
Mocha Moms, is a nonprofit organization and support group for mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time (outside of the home) in order to devote more time to their families and communities. The Antelope Valley chapter of the organization is celebrating Black Marriage Day this weekend with “Lover’s Lane Bowling Nights” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Brunswick Sands Bowling, in Lancaster.
If you are not already registered for the event, Mocha Moms is covering half the price of participation for ten couples on a first come-first-served basis.
For more information contact avmochamoms@yahoo.com.
“Healthy married couples in the Black community are nearly invisible (in) the media, but they exist. All we generally hear about is the pain. We’re creating a cultural shift in the Black community to reconsider the benefits of marriage and show the many couples who are married and proud of it,” said Wedded Bliss Foundation Executive Director Nisa Muhammad. “Much of what we hear about marriage in the Black community is a blues song about low rates, out of wedlock births, escalating divorces and how somebody done somebody wrong. We want to replace that blues song with a love song of joy.”
Black Marriage Day has been celebrated annually at locally sponsored events hosted by faith-based and community groups on the fourth Sunday of March since 2003. Marriage activists in more than 300 communities participated in 2010, Muhammad said.
Wedded Bliss Foundation and Black Marriage Day activities have been featured nationally in Black Enterprise, Ebony and Essence magazines, on CNN, and the Michael Baisden Show.
