DO BLACK MEN REALLY LOVE BLACK WOMEN? A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON HOW MASS MEDIA SHAPE BLACK MEN’S PERCEPTION OF BLACK WOMEN FOR LONG-TERM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP – OR NOT _______________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _______________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy _____________________________________________________ by DAPHNE S. VALERIUS Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Ph.D., Dissertation Chair MAY 2021 The undersigned, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled DO BLACK MEN REALLY LOVE BLACK WOMEN? A QUALIATIVE STUDY ON HOW MASS MEDIA SHAPE BLACK MEN’S PERCEPTION OF BLACK WOMEN FOR LONG-TERM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP – OR NOT Presented by Daphne S. Valerius A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy And hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. _______________________________________________________ Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Ph.D. _______________________________________________________ Julius M. Riles, Ph.D. _______________________________________________________ Yong Z. Volz, Ph.D. _______________________________________________________ Cynthia M. Frisby, Ph.D. DEDICATION In loving memory of Dr. Lez Edmond, Uncle Melex Regis and Ton Ton Gerald Cherubin, as your legacy I hope my work continues to make you proud. To the voices and the truth of Black men, as a Black woman I hear you. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, above everything I would like thank my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth for guiding my footsteps and placing me on this journey and assignment. You have been the source of my strength and the wind beneath my wings in all that I have done to get to this place. It is all unto you. To my mother, Adeline Regis you are the first example that I had of a strong, resilient and hardworking Black woman. It is your example and your sacrifice that makes me the woman that I am today. To my father, Herntz Valerius the man who first protected me, provided for me, comforted me, disciplined me, covered me and first set the example of true unconditional sacrificial love thank you for always being my rock and supporting me like no one else. To my sister, Dr. Cynthia Valerius my first friend and the one who knows me better than most and my brother Chris thank you both for always going hard for me the way that you do being my biggest cheerleaders along the way. To my nieces and Goddaughters Neveah, Sariya and Almerinda – each of you came into my world, stole my heart, made me an auntie and my life would never be the same. I only hope to be the auntie that you can look up to as a role models for years to come. To my beloved big brother and my other half, Marc William Boucher there are no words to articulate just how grateful I am to have you in my life. Since the beginning of time, God knew that I wouldn’t need a cousin but a big brother in my life, to stand alongside me with every venture, endeavor, aspiration and to lift me up every time I have fallen and fallen hard. And just like everything else our talks and hour long conversations gave birth to the thesis of my dissertation - I thank you. To my dear brother, confidante and friend Bacchus thank you for being a constant source of motivation, encouragement, and support. Thank you for always reminding me of the purpose of my assignment but most importantly thank you for allowing God to use you in such a special ii way to pour into my life as you have over the years. To my beloved Dr. Beverly Fields, ever since Dr. Edmond walked me into your office that day you have held my hand as your own, guiding me and supporting me along my journey that has brought us to this moment. Thank you both for first allowing God to use each of you that rainy day in order to push me forward in the direction of this program. And thank you for not only getting me here but for your unwavering commitment to ensuring that this moment would come to be. And to my big sister, Dr. Yvette Morgan, thank you for being one of the first Black women to show me what it looks like to be a Black female PhD, you adopted me as your little sister from the moment Dr. Edmond brought me to your office and you’ve been a champion and advocate of my work ever since. Thank you for setting the standard of excellence that we both inherited from Poppa – We are his legacy. To Dr. NaTashua Davis thank you for taking Dr. Fields’ call concerning me and to Dr. Tiffanesha Williams thank you for embracing me with open arms and for all of your efforts to ensure not only my admission but my success as a Scholar. You both labored on my behalf and made tireless efforts to get me in the door which have brought me to this moment. For that I am forever thankful. To my advisor, ally and advocate Dr. Lissa Behm-Morawitz, thank you for taking Dr. Davis’ call concerning me. You believed in me and my work before we ever met and once we did, through it all you have held my hand, refusing to let it go. You have advocated on my behalf in ways that I will never know and you have worked tirelessly to ensure that I would make it to the finish line - for all of your efforts and your commitment to my success, I owe you a great debt of gratitude. It is my only hope to continue your legacy of success and excellence in all that I endeavor to do from this moment forward. To my committee members, Dr. Julius Riles, Dr. Cyndi Frisby and Dr. Yong Volz - thank you, thank you, thank you for your “yes” and your commitment to ensure to my academic iii success. Each of you have not only challenged me as a student but you’ve brought out the best in me along the way. Thank you for pushing me to rise to the occasion to be a better scholar and researcher than I was the first day I entered your classroom. To my PhD Brother, confidante and friend, Dr. Darvelle Hutchins — when they would see you, they would see me, they would see us - two peas in a pod. We started this journey together, we have walked along side each other, and we have lifted each other up through every trial, setback and tribulation. Words cannot begin to fully express just how grateful I am to have a friend and brother in you. As iron sharpens iron, you have been a rock and covering for me on this journey and I am forever thankful that God saw fit to place us together on this path and to God be the glory we have made it to the finish line — together. To my dear Sisterfriend and colleague Dr. Dena Lane Bonds, you embraced me with the warmth of your heart and the generosity of your friendship from the moment we met. I thank God for placing you in my life on this PhD journey and for the memorable moments we shared together as D & D. As iron sharpens iron you have walked alongside me and lifted me up when I needed you most. Thank you for being the gift that is you and of course hugs to hubby Dr. Ransford Pinto too. To my mentor, confidante and big brother, Dr. Anthony Pinder thank you for being everything that my soul needed since day one and for pushing me with encouragement and unconditional love. Even from a distance your presence and support have always been steadfast and continue to remain. To my beloved family, The Harper’s Candace and Marquis Harper Sr - thank you for every prayer, every word of encouragement, every word of counsel and for showing up for me in this journey when I needed you most - I thank you. To my sisters Conchita Tucker and Nappaye Myers-Hailey you both have been solid rocks for me that I could lean on throughout this entire process from the moment I decided to iv pursue this PhD. For every moment we shared together in preparation of applying to a doctoral program, for being my support system and for rooting for me even when I doubted myself, and for laboring alongside me, every step of the way - for all these things and more I am forever grateful. To my Sistertribe Chanda Womack, Amanda Basse and Lynda Kashouh - each of you have always and continue to play your part showing up for me, lifting me up and being my Amen choir in the background of all that I do. To my line sister Joi Danelle Whitehead, as my friend, sister and confidante you have seen me through so many peaks, valleys and seasons of life but through it all your love and sisterhood has remained constant and steadfast. I am just so thankful that in this lifetime God saw fit to give me you. To the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and especially my Sorors from Theta Psi Omega Chapter you will always have a special place in my heart and I’m never letting go. To my Pinky Phi Pinky Tribe, to my praying warrior sister Diana Carreno, Stacy Lloyd, Ilia Harris Prado and to my Seesters Crew – thank you for showing up for me and lifting me up the way that you do. To my big brothers Frantz Boucher, Jae Williams, Jonathan “Satch” Satriale and to all of my family, friends, colleagues and the ones who have prayed for me, checked up on me, encouraged me, supported me and cheered me on from the sidelines throughout this journey - thank you for being a constant source of motivation in my life especially in the moments when I may have considered giving up.