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A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree by Examining Committee Members: © Copyright 2014 by Danielle M. Wallace All Rights Reserved € ii ABSTRACT While the marriage prospects of educated Black women are of particular interest to the media and scholars alike, very rarely do these two groups examine the ways in which Black men understand and perceive marriage. In particular, though they have successfully provided socio-cultural and historically specific examinations of the topic, scholars of African American Studies have not conducted in-depth empirical analyses of Black dating and marriage practices. Simultaneously, social scientists, while providing significant empirical data, have not supported their work with a cultural analysis specific to Black people. In an effort to merge these two areas of scholarship, this dissertation investigated the dating and relationship ideals of college-educated Black men and women. The purpose of this study was to: (1) discover what traits and criteria males and females consider most important in a potential mate, (2) understand the role that the current social and marriage market conditions such as sex ratio, socioeconomic status and education level play in mate selection among college educated Black men and women and (3) develop a culturally specific theory of Black marriage. Through the use of surveys administered online and in face-to-face sessions, this dissertation sought to explore how predictor variables such as age, sex, family economic status and education level influence how 123 college-educated Black males and females ages 18 and over view their dating and marriage prospects and the types of characteristics they assign to the ideal mate. Preliminary findings showed that participants placed a high level of importance on getting married, had positive attitudes toward marriage and were optimistic about their iii marriage prospects. Additionally, factors such as mate availability, educational attainment and economic ability were of particular importance to participants and play a role in their choices about if, when and who they would marry. Lastly, the author articulated a theory of marriage, the Preliminary Intersectional Factor Theory of Marriage Attitudes and Marital Behavior. Based on the findings, it was argued that the proposed preliminary theory of marriage takes into account the structural, economic and cultural factors that intersect to shape the lives, marital attitudes and marital behavior of Black men and women in America. iv For my mother, Joanne Harrison, and my foremothers, from whom I draw my strength and courage. In particular, I dedicate this, my first major scholarly work, to my great- grandmother Lucille Monica Tulloch Dawes, who was the first woman in my family to write a book, and, if she had been born in a different time and place, would have undoubtedly been the first to complete a dissertation. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS When I entered Temple University, I had no idea that I would be embarking on a journey of self-exploration that would introduce me to so many amazing people along the way. I am so grateful for my time in African American Studies and am proud to be a member of such a distinguished group of Africana Studies scholars. First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Sonja Peterson-Lewis, for her guidance and mentorship throughout my graduate studies. She has led by example and without her, I would not be the teacher or scholar that I am today. She worked with me tirelessly throughout this whole process, never giving up on me (even though she may have wanted to) and encouraging me the entire way. Working with her has awakened the statistics-loving researcher in me, something I never expected to happen. Dr. Peterson- Lewis, I cannot begin to thank you for all of the tools that you have provided me with, but here is a start: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am very grateful to my dissertation committee, Dr. Heather Thompson, Dr. Anthony Monteiro and Dr. Rickie Sanders, for their input, feedback and encouragement at various stages in this process. Your words and guidance have been invaluable. I would also like to thank my parents, Joanne Harrison and Clive Wallace, for their support and unwavering belief in my ability to not only complete this journey, but do so with flying colors. I credit both of them with instilling in me the desire to do well and succeed. However, it is my father who planted the love of Africa and African people in my heart and soul as a child. It is that love that set me on this path and without it, I would have never have completed this journey. Thank you, Daddy. vi My sisters and cheerleading section, Tanya Butler-Holder, Chloe Wallace, Sasha Wallace, and Marisa Wallace, have been wonderful and provided me with laughter and support whenever I needed it, and for that I love and thank them. My stepmother, Sally Wallace, has also been my unquestioning, faithful supporter, who is always ready with a loving and comforting word, and I love and appreciate her for it. I would like to thank my nephews, Tau, Taye, Taj and “Baby T” for being a constant source of love and amazement. Boys, you continue to blow my mind with your smarts and I look forward to reading your own dissertations one day. My friends, Shivohn Garcia, Lynne Greene, Joungsuk Moon, Mary Helene Ostine, Tara Ostine and LaToya Thompson-Pryce have been in my life so long that they are now family. Thank you for being my sisters and support system. I would also like to thank the Harrison, Wallace, Dawes, Ostine, Carroll and Holder families for their support and encouragement. Additionally, I am so grateful to Dr. Ariane Thomas for her counsel and listening ear over the past year and a half, and for helping me to start on the path toward clarity and healing. I would like to recognize my other academic homes, the Department of Black Studies at SUNY New Paltz and the Department of Africana-World Studies at William Paterson University, particularly, Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis and Dr. Nina Jemmott for their advice and mentorship. It is in these two places that my past and future as a scholar lie, and I am proud to be part of them both. During my graduate career at Temple University, I was blessed to form relationships with some amazing people, and I am grateful to them for their friendship and collegiality, especially Kaila Adia Story, Weckea D. Lilly, Ibram X. Kendi, and Sekhmet Ra Em Kht Maat. vii During the dissertation process, I worked at the Temple University Writing Center and would like to thank its staff for providing me with a port in the storm that is dissertation writing. Working there allowed me to develop in so many ways: I became a better writer, a better scholar, a better colleague and a better teacher, and for that, I am forever grateful. In my time at the Writing Center, I had the good fortune to become part of a circle of brilliant and inspiring sister-warrior-scholar-activists to whom I am so grateful for their love, support, friendship and camaraderie: Mari Morales-Williams, Denae Sisco, Lorraine Savage, Laura Porterfield and Lina Richardson. Thank you, Pixies, for embracing me and welcoming me into your hearts and lives. I don't know what I would have done without you magical women and your constant reminders to shine brightly in times of darkness. You reflect the love and the light of the world to me, and I can’t thank you enough for the goodness you bring to my life. I don’t know if the world is ready for all of the Pixieness that we are prepared to unleash, but it better get ready: Nobody can stifle BLACK GENIUS! Finally, I would like to thank Karanja Keita Carroll for his support over the last eight years. He provided me with emotional, financial, mental, spiritual and scholarly help at various points throughout this process, and has been, among other things, a sounding board and editor for me. Although he was often frustrated, he continued to back me up and remind me that I could finish what I started. I do not know what the future holds for us, but I am grateful for what you have been to me. Thank you. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION.....................................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................................xv LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... xviii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 Popular Media Treatment of Black Marriage and Relationships.............................3 Television Coverage of Black Marriage and Relationships ........................4 Relationship Guides and Manuals’ Coverage of Black Relationships and Marriage .........................................................................6 Introspection ..........................................................................................................12 Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................15 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ......................................................................................17