Bet on These Odds

Cultural norms in majority society dictate that marriage is an inevitable destination for any able-bodied adult. Even with scary divorce rates in the US, marriage is still a respected institution that most will consider entering into at least once. A November 2010 Time Magazine article entitled, “Who Needs Marriage?” breaks down what it means to tie the knot in America today:

About 70% of {Americans} have been married at least once, according to the 2010 Census. The Pew poll found that although 44% of Americans under 30 believe marriage is heading for extinction, only 5% of those in that age group do not want to get married… “Getting married is a way to show family and friends that you have a successful personal life,” says Andrew Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins University …”It’s like the ultimate merit badge.”

With the odds in their favor and a societal veneration of marriage, white women will more than likely find who and what they want in partnership. Therefore, they have the luxury of approaching their dating life with a more optimistic attitude and more discerning requirements for potential mates. Do communities of color hold the same hallowed respect or feel the same societal pressures to form the ultimate union? Precipitous erosion of the black nuclear family and generational, single-parent households suggest a different perception of marriage. Equally as troubling is a potential systemic shift in the psyche of young black children regarding marriage. A 2006 account of one Washington Post journalist’s visit to a DC-area middle school unveiled that some among our future generations already believe that marriage is for white people.