June 2024 Edition

Culture & News

Our Wedding Day

June is known as the most popular month for weddings. It’s a wonderful time for a couple to pledge their love and union to each other. The online magazine: Black Bride.com has ideas for planning, inspiration, and examples of real weddings. The magazine features Shaira Howard and Ricky Grinstead who plan to wed in October 2022. Their photo session: A Nautical Engagement Session in Gulfport, MS has absolutely beautiful images. Congratulations to the lovely couple!

When planning for this special wedding occasion there are many things to consider: premarital counseling, best venue, the menu, guests, and the scrumptious wedding cake. After the wedding there are also things to consider, such as learning to grow together in good times and bad. The movie: “A Fresh Start – A New Beginning With God” (2021) introduces newlyweds, Elijah and Renelle (their real names by the way). The young couple are excited for their wedding, but not quite aware of a storm brewing on the horizon. Will they learn to grow together and sail the turbulent waters? This indie film delivers a realistic look at some challenges in marriage and was very enjoyable to watch. This film is posted below.

There also has been some myths about African-American marriage and new light is being shed on the topic. Professors Ivory A. Toldson (Howard University) and Bryant Marks (Morehouse College) conducted research to examine Black marriage rates and exposed a sample flaw in a popular Yale study (2009) that concluded only 42% of Black women are married. They stress the media has continued to put forth erroneous data of African-American marriage and its supposed lack thereof. ^1,2

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report (2009) most Black women will be married by the age of 55 years old. By that age only 13% of Black women will be unmarried. It appears that Black women tend to marry later in life, for mostly financial security reasons. In addition, the report cites nearly 90% of Black men had Black wives in 2010, whereas Black men married to White females was at 9%. ²

On the topic of marriage please let me add my two cents. For Christians, we must remember not to derive our self-worth from our martial status. Be it married, single, widow, or divorced. There are some people who will not marry due to the specific call on their lives and that’s okay (see Jeremiah 16:1-2  (KJV) Holy Bible). Or, the time-table you set for marriage may not be time-table the Lord has in mind (Consider Sarah in Genesis 18:12-15 (KJV) Holy Bible). The desire for marriage should not become an idol in your life. Instead, seek the Lord in prayer about your potential for marriage and ask for guidance. And educate yourself on marriage by reading this book: Christian Marriage 101 Tips for a Healthy Marriage by Pastor Joey Bauer (123 pages, 2014, kindle edition) a short and insightful look at the institution of marriage.

Congratulations to all the couples for a blessed union!

References

(1) Harris-Desmond, Jenee. “Myth-Busting the Black Marriage Crisis.” The Root.com, August 18^th, 2011. 

https://www.theroot.com/myth-busting-the-black-marriage-crisis-1790865391

(2) Gordon, Taylor. “The Myth is Wrong: Vast Majority of Black Women Will Get Married in Their Lifetimes.” Atlanta Black Star.com, February 7^th, 2015. 

https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/02/07/contrary-mainstream-media-myth-black-women-fearful-never-getting-married

💖For Additional Reading

1.) Essence: Black Wedding Moment: This Couple Eloped On The Beach In San Diego (2020)

https://www.essence.com/love/black-wedding-moment-this-couple-eloped-on-the-beach-in-san-diego/

2.) Atlanta Black Star: The Myth Is Wrong: Vast Majority of Black Women Will Get Married In Their Lifetimes (2015)

https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/02/07/contrary-mainstream-media-myth-black-women-fearful-never-getting-married

“More accurate research reveals that Black women are getting married, but they simply get married at an older age than other races.”-Atlanta Black Star: The Myth is Wrong Vast Majority of Black Women will get Married in their Lifetimes (2015)

3.) The Root: Myth-Busting the Black Marriage ‘Crisis’ (2011)

https://www.theroot.com/myth-busting-the-black-marriage-crisis-1790865391

4.) Newsweek: They’re Dragging Out the ‘Absent Black Fathers’ Myth Again. Can We Give it a Rest? | Opinion (2020)

https://www.newsweek.com/absent-black-fathers-myth-racism-1509085

5.) HuffPost: No, Most Black Kids Are Not Fatherless (2016)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/no-most-black-kids-are-no_b_11109876/amp

6.) The Atlantic: In the Land of Independent Mothers (2016)

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/05/the-land-of-independent-mothers/481302/

“In Iceland, some 67 percent of babies are born to parents who are not married. A combination of generous social programs and a secular society have all but made nuptials obsolete—while giving rise to a unique culture of independent motherhood.”-The Atlantic: In the Land of Independent Mothers (2016) 

*Note: The current article “Our Wedding Day” was first published in the June 2022 Edition has been updated to include excerpts from the November 2019 Edition article: “Marriage in Color” and the February 2023 Edition book review of Christian Marriage 101 Tips for a Healthy Marriage.

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Art/Film/Literature News

O’Sullivan Stew

Meet our heroine Kate O’Sullivan, who has an amazing way with words in the book: O’Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott (48 pages, 2001) . When her Irish town of Crookhaven suffers a calamity, she comes to the rescue with her gift. This tale is complete with leprechauns, fairies, a sea serpent, wild cats, and a hungry giant. It has an engaging storyline and fun illustrations! 

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Business/Non-Profit/Inspirational News

Medgar Evers Awarded Medal of Freedom

Medgar Evers was a husband, father, World War II veteran, and a civil rights leader in Mississippi. In 1963, he was assassinated while in his driveway. On May 3rd, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden posthumously awarded Mr. Evers the Medal of Freedom, which is the highest U.S. civilian honor given to individuals.

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Book Review

The Watergate Girl

The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President by Jill Wine-Banks (272 pages, 2020) is an eye-opening read from a federal prosecutor who was a part of the trial team that took on an American president. The 1970s witnessed a White House political scandal that reached deep into the Oval Office. U.S. President Richard Nixon and his closest aides engaged in a criminal conspiracy that involved illegal wiretapping, hush money payments, and the organized burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex. This criminality was an illegal “dirty tricks campaign” to exploit political opponents. The author, Jill Wine-Banks, was a young attorney and the only woman on the Watergate special prosecution team.

The book provides a good overview of the trial process, arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court (for the subpoenaed infamous tape recordings), U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing, and impeachment votes. She discusses sexism in the legal profession and aspects of her unhappy marriage. President Nixon would later resign from office, while his closest aides would serve prison sentences. She would go on to be the first woman general counsel of the U.S. Army. An insightful read from a woman who stood on the front-line to battle political corruption in the highest office of the land.           

🌷Book Quotes:

“It was sickening to consider that Nixon had actually engaged in the kinds of sleazy activities familiar to me from prosecuting mobsters: intimidating witnesses, paying bribes, lying to law enforcement officials.”

“Soon after, at nine p.m., on a directive from the president himself, the FBI swooped in to occupy our office.”

“The White House lawyers said they could find no innocent explanation for the missing minutes, and that only Rose [President Nixon’s secretary] could explain them.”

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News Videos (6)

“When our Intelligence Division identified those who were professionals, well trained, one of them was married to someone that was arrested for terrorism.”-NYC Mayor Eric Adams