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VOLUME 73 – Number 12 December 2-8, 2009 479 Ledyard • Detroit MI 48201 313.963.5522 $1.00
Snubbing the
Successful
Wedding ring?
without
a man
By Bankole Thompson
fact that Black women are more
CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
likely than White women to have
new research from
children, 45 percent of those born
A
Yale University is
between 1955 and 1960 didn’t have
going right to the
children by 45 compared to 35 per-
heart of an issue
cent of White women who were born
that is all too fa-
in the same period.
miliar in the African American The study, led by Natalie Nitsche,
community. That educated a graduate student in sociology at
and successful Black women Yale, used data from the U.S. Census
are finding it difficult to meet Bureau’s Current Population Survey
“Mr. Right.” to reveal the marital status of Black
The research which has
women with postgraduate degrees.
become the subject of many For example, for Black women
discussions in the media with postgraduate degrees born be-
about the stability of the Black tween 1956 and 1960, the average
family in the Barack Obama era age they gave birth for the first time
shows that few Black women was 34, almost in the same range as
with post-graduate degrees White women.
are getting married and having
children.
However, when White women
started reaching their 30s, many of
“In the past nearly four de- them gave birth more than once while
cades, Black women have made most Black women did not.
great gains in higher education
rates, yet these gains appear
Ebony Reed, 31, deputy metro
to have come increasingly at
editor at the Detroit News, said there
the expense of marriage and
are a number of factors responsible
family,” said Hannah Brueck- — Dale Rich photos
for the shortage of Black men in our
ner, professor of sociology at
communities.
KIMBERLY HILL (left) and Ebony Reed (center), two accomplished single Black women, talk with Bankole Thompson on
Yale University and one of the
the “Center Stage” program on WADL TV 38 about the Yale University study dealing with successful African American
“If Black professional women are
authors of the research. “Both only looking in the Black community
White and Black highly edu-
women not marrying. The show, which will also feature actress Lonette McKee, airs on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m.
for a mate there is a limited pool of
cated women have increasingly available men, based on high rates of
delayed childbirth and remain
basketball great Charles Barkley and
SPECIAL REPORT
with so many “It is very possible to become so en-
incarceration, mortality and unem-
childless, but the increase is
golf superstar Tiger Woods, who all socioeconomic grossed in the mundane functions of a
ployment of Black men,” Reed said.
stronger for Black women.”
married White women. challenges that career position that you lose sight of
“There are also lower levels of col-
This new study produced
Because of the limited pool of avail-
sometimes pro- your outside interests, thus hindering
lege degrees among Black men when
by Yale University Center
able intelligent and accomplished
vide unintended your chances of finding love.”
Black men, some Detroiters are re-
roadblocks in See WeddiNg riNg page A-4
for Research on Inequalities
and the Life Course, directed
sponding to the Yale report with cau-
developing rela-
However, Hill believes the dilemma
by Brueckner, has been de-
tious optimism.
tionships.
facing Black women can be addressed.
scribed as the first of its kind “I think that Black women should ex-
“For jobs that
“The answer is balance. As suc-
for reviewing long-term trends plore other options (opposite sex), just
have tradition-
cessful Black women we must learn to
in marriage among highly edu- as many Blacks have done throughout
ally been held
prioritize what is important in life, and
cated Black women. history. Love is not defined in terms of
by White men,
balance must influence this equation,”
According to the study,
Black and Black, but perhaps, in terms
there is almost
she said. “A balanced woman achieves
Black women who were born
of Latino, Asian, White, etc,” said Kim-
an unbearable
academic and career success, actively
after 1950 were twice as likely
berly Hill, 37, a political consultant, Bankole Thompson
amount of pres-
displays a commitment to bettering
as their White counterparts to
lecturer and former aide to Congress-
sure to perform
their community, has a social life, and
never have been married by
man John Conyers.
exceptionally. Consequently, women
most importantly, at least in my view
are often forced to choose between
has developed spiritual maturity.”
age 45, and twice as likely to Hill said Black women are faced career advancement or love,” Hill said. The study noted that despite the
be divorced, widowed or sepa-
rated.
“Highly educated Black
women have increasingly
Yale reports educated Black women not saying ‘i do’
fewer options when it comes
to potential mates,” Brueck-
Are women seeking men like Barack Obama?
ner said. “They are less likely
than Black men to marry out-
side their race, and compared
to Whites and Black men, they
are least likely to marry a col-
lege-educated spouse.”
‘divorce
Some highly educated and
successful Black men have
Appetizers’
gone outside of their race to
find their soul mates.
Vivid examples can be
for you
found in Julian Bond, veteran
civil rights leader and chair-
21 ways of
man of the National NAACP,
“I’ve dated men who made sig- “Right now I am single. I have “For jobs that have tradition- “Women nowadays are holding
greening your marriage
entertainer/activist Harry Be-
nificantly more than I did and no candidates. I’m not sure I ally been held by White men, down jobs, earning their own
lafonte, former United Nations
men who’ve made less. Black totally believe that’s because there is almost an unbearable paychecks and taking respon-
A new book, “Divorce Appetizers,”
Secretary General Kofi Anan,
women, like all women, are look- there aren’t any available men amount of pressure to perform sibility for their own happiness
written by renowned author C. Paschal
ing for men who treat us respect- who have my standards. I think exceptionally. It is very possible and emotional well-being. We
Eze, offers resourceful discussion ques-
fully, love us, and have healthy I and several other successful to become so engrossed in the realize we’re capable of taking
tions, answers and tips regarding main-
INDEX
relationships with their families, Black women are waiting for mundane functions of a career care of ourselves and don’t
taining a healthy marriage. Available on
friends and their God. Men who our Barack Obama.” — Kelly L. position that you lose sight of necessarily need or want men
Amazon.com and in all bookstores.
EDITORIALs. ...........................................A-6
are confident, open and secure Dickens, producer/reporter, your outside interests, thus hin- (or anyone else) to provide for
“If in one very busy week, you talk with
DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUs
with themselves.” — Portia Rob- ABC12 WJRT TV –Flint dering your chances of finding us. There’s power in indepen-
a number of married couples who are fed
sERVICEs..................................B-4 and B-5
erson, director, U.S. Justice love.” — Kimberly Hill, political dence.” — Lonette McKee,
up with their marriages and are think-
Department Office of Intergov- science lecturer actress and filmmaker
ing of breaking up, what would you do?
AT YOUR sERVICE.................................C-6
ernmental and Public Liaison
Cast it aside as one of those things that
ENTERTAINMENT....................D-1 and D-2
happen in a post-modern society or think
of smart ways to really help? And what
sPORTs...................................................C-1
Continue the ConverSation online
if you have also gone through divorce
CLAssIFIEDs..........................................D-4
yourself, and seen others go through its
pangs and pains, with children hurt, emo-
OBITUARIEs............................................D-3
Join us on Monday, Dec. 7, at noon for an online conversation about successful Black tions damaged, hope strangled, finances
women not marrying. Participating in the conversation will be renowned poet
shattered? You know, at the end of the
INSIDE
day, no matter whose side you are on, di-
Jessica Care Moore, television producer Kelly Dickens, Karen Morgan, press vorce is not something to wish anybody,
secretary office of Congressman John Conyers; Ken Harris of the International
not even your worst enemy, which is why
you now have this handy book,” Eze
Detroit Black Expo, Harold Meeks of Tell Us Detroit and others for a fascinating online chat
writes. E-mail paashanbooks(@)mail.com
about this report and the future of the Black family.
or (319) 351-9695.
GM CEO Henderson out
‘Changes needed to
“urgent” media alert of 4:30 p.m. the Buick Regal.
eastern press conference at GM
be made’ says board
World Headquarters, came as a sur-
GM Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr.
prise to most in the industry and
will serve as interim CEO of GM.
By Marcus Amick
clearly many at GM. “At its monthly meeting in De-
Novelty
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The announcement of Hender-
troit today, the General Motors
son’s resignation was made only a
Board of Directors accepted the
shop opens
The General Motors Board of
few hours after a press release was
resignation of Fritz Henderson as
Directors announced late Tues-
issued on the eve of the 2009 Los
director, president and CEO of the
day that GM CEO Fritz Henderson
Angeles Auto Show about three live
company,” said Whitacre. “Fritz
in Ferndale
would be resigning, fueling a fire-
Webcasts at the show to be hosted
has done a remarkable job in lead-
storm of speculation about the
by Henderson. The Webcasts were
ing the company through an un-
course of the company.
to include a keynote address to the
precedented period of challenge
See page B-1
Motor Press Guild, a press confer-
and change. While momentum has
Final_Mrs._Robinson_Broadsheet.pdf / Michigan Chronicle - Broadsheet HALF: 6 col 11 7/16" x
T
10.5"
he news, which came follow-
ence for Chevrolet Cruze and Volt,
been building over the past several
Fritz Henderson ing what GM officials noted as an
and a press conference featuring See HeNderSON page A-4
6 89076 06419 4
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