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Does the black church keep black women single?
cnn ^ | August 10, 2010 | Liane Membis

Posted on 08/10/2010 5:45:32 PM PDT by tlb

it is this devout style of belief and attachment to the black church that is keeping black women single and lonely.

Cooper made claims that predominantly black protestant churches are the main reason black women are single. Cooper argues that rigid beliefs constructed by the black church are blinding black women in their search for love.

In raising the issue, Cooper ignited a public conversation about a topic that is increasingly getting attention in the black community and beyond. Oprah Winfrey, among others, recently hosted a show about single black women and relationships after a Yale University study found that 42 percent of African-American women in the United States were unmarried.

"Black women are interpreting the scriptures too literally. They want a man to which they are 'equally yoked' -- a man that goes to church five times a week and every Sunday.

"If they meet a black man that is not in church, they are automatically eliminated as a potential suitor. This is just limiting their dating pool."

"I don't think the church keeps black women single," Watkins says. "But I do agree that some black churches teach women that they must only date a man that goes to church regularly."

Watkins described his interactions with southern women who are devout churchgoers. "I am a male and I know that I will treat a woman well, but I have been rejected many times because I don't thump a bible with me everywhere that I go."

According to the PEW study, "African-American men are significantly more likely than women to be unaffiliated with any religion.

Cooper says her goal is to empower black women. If their strategy for meeting men is failing, Cooper offers two suggestions: Find another church or leave-and go where the boys go: tailgates, bars and clubs.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: blackchurch; blackfamily; church; dating; genderwars; marriage; standards; women
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To: livius
They’re blaming black women for not wanting to go out with some male jailbird mack daddy with 20 bastard children?

They're in jail mostly because it's black women who'll call the cops on them over some BS crap.

21 posted on 08/10/2010 6:13:28 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Mexico is the U.S. version of Hamas)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Hmm, the CEO of HP (white, btw) just had to resign over some BS crap brought on by his white mistress...that’s just one story. Some white ex wife just screwed her major player ex husband to the wall - whistle blower fee. Of course she waited until after she received her settlement and got a double payday.

The only people who suffered over the HP fiasco were the innocent shareholders....the basturd got a HUGE settlement.


22 posted on 08/10/2010 6:24:03 PM PDT by khnyny (Worst US environmental disaster EVER - BP Oil Spill in the Gulf - Obama's Fault!!!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
They're in jail occasionally because it's black women who'll call the cops on them over some BS crap.

Fixed that for you.

23 posted on 08/10/2010 6:24:52 PM PDT by MichiganMan (Oprah: Commercial Beef Agriculture=Bad, Commercial Chicken Agriculture=Good...Wait, WTF???)
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To: himno hero

Indeed.


24 posted on 08/10/2010 6:26:57 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: MichiganMan

Your fix is half-right, but my main point is that black women aren’t exactly saints either.


25 posted on 08/10/2010 6:40:25 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Mexico is the U.S. version of Hamas)
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To: himno hero
Obviously the women are going to have to change their odds sheets... to include white.

That would only be reasonable, since for a decade or two the interracial marriage pattern hss been black man, white woman. But I know of at least a couple of counter examples who are somewhat younger folk. (I also know a guy of Japanese ancestry that is married to a rather Romanesque red-head of very pale complexion.

26 posted on 08/10/2010 6:46:56 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Your fix is half-right, but my main point is that black women white trash women aren’t exactly saints either.
27 posted on 08/10/2010 6:47:18 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Political correctness in America today is a Rip Van Winkle acid trip.)
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To: livius
Black Christian women are absolutely right to keep their standards high <<

YUP!...but is that only after they have 3-4 kids that the rest of us have to support?...

The cart before the horse theory don't seem to be working for them...

28 posted on 08/10/2010 6:53:14 PM PDT by M-cubed
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To: chris37

“Another factor keeping black females single would be very large, unattractive white females who seem to have incredibly low dating standards, if any at all...”

That was very stubbly said.


29 posted on 08/10/2010 6:56:33 PM PDT by Bluebeard16
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To: donna
ouch!....lol...nail...meet hammer!....

got to be the shortest and best post on this thread!

30 posted on 08/10/2010 6:58:51 PM PDT by M-cubed
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To: GeronL
I think the pop-culture celebration of perversity is a bigger factor

BINGO! Because of it, most of the brothers who are not in jail try to become "players"--studs who are quite willing to make babies but not to rear them.

31 posted on 08/10/2010 7:03:00 PM PDT by madprof98 ("moritur et ridet" - salvianus)
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To: Celerity

I agree. I live in the South and I know that poor white women have as much of a problem as poor black women do. The only difference between blacks and whites is that middle class black women have the same problems as bottom of the line white trailer dwellers, while middle class white women can normally expect to marry well (or even marry at all - most black men don’t want to marry).

Things are changing and even upper middle class white women are having problems finding a mate now. Trash culture has struck everywhere, but I think it’s had more of an impact on men, although it’s possible that men see this otherwise. In any case, the lack of objective standards of behavior and good life goals is definitely the root of it all. Christian women of any color have that, and non Christian men of any color don’t. And non-Christian men are very common in the black community.


32 posted on 08/10/2010 7:22:31 PM PDT by livius
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To: muawiyah

What you are describing is a serious cultural and social dysfunction arising out of post-segregation voluntary segregation. The main problem “Black churches” have caused is the segregation of “Black churches.” Segregation, racial idenity and exclusiveness among a small group of people, is unhealthy. I thought after we demolished the legal and institutional system of formal segregation, we were smooth sailing.

Little did I not anticipate that the Democrat Party elite would revamp racial separation into a hard core political, social and cultural construct. There is power in racism and the Dems/socialists have always known how to design it and use it for power. And as always, underclass Black Americans suffer the most from it. Very sad.


33 posted on 08/10/2010 7:35:40 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: tlb
"Black women are interpreting the scriptures too literally. They want a man to which they are 'equally yoked' -- a man that goes to church five times a week and every Sunday.

I think the "don't be unequally yoked" emphasis is something seen in Protestant evangelical churches generally and is not limited to churches that have a congregation dominated by one race.

34 posted on 08/10/2010 7:38:31 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: livius

It’s important for you in the south to recognise the difference in South and North culture and attitudes. I say this with an utmost respect to the South : You’ve got it right.

Up here in the north there are a lot of Christian black males, and a lot of christian males in general. The churches in this area are socialist progressive churches (Think Rev. Wright) and the teachings of Christ have been replaced with a worship of Liberalism. The churches here may require membership to receive hand-outs and church benefits. Attendence is rarely voluntary (Regardless of color)

The end result is that even after years of church-going, the members will routinely still be involved in gang violence, frequent meetings with the Police and incarceration. Picture a mugshot of a tattooed gang member, with a larger-than-life crucifix necklace.

There are vast differences, still, within northern citizenry. Many jail-house conversions still remain after sentences are served: Some of our most powerful and effective christian ministers, deacons, and preachers mostly have a criminal past.

It also makes for an effective face-to-face with the troubled, the culturally deprived and the masses. No one will be converted by a millionaire, and a millionaire will rarely make the attempt.


35 posted on 08/10/2010 8:02:46 PM PDT by Celerity
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To: Bluebeard16

I have to confess that I am not quite sure what “stubbly” means aside from short facial hair, but I would ssume that it means abrasive or the like. I wasn’t trying to be abrasive, just stating what I see all the time around here in NW florida. It is a pattern that seems to repeat itself ad nauseum, and I do imagine that it does cause problems for black females seeking mates.


36 posted on 08/10/2010 8:27:23 PM PDT by chris37
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To: SaraJohnson
The main problem “Black churches” have caused is the segregation of “Black churches.” Segregation, racial idenity and exclusiveness among a small group of people, is unhealthy. I thought after we demolished the legal and institutional system of formal segregation, we were smooth sailing.

Unhealthy indeed but unlikely to change, ever. I've seen this voluntary segregation all my life, from military mess halls, at churches, within integrated schools. Some of this is a matter of geography but birds of a feather do tend to flock together, be they white birds or black birds. That's choice and that's freedom and no amount of legislation or preaching from the pulpit will change it. My belief is that it will not be that way in Heaven, all having the same Father, we will truly be brothers and sisters.

37 posted on 08/10/2010 8:32:13 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Nobody reads tag lines.)
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To: tlb
Cooper offers two suggestions: Find another church or leave-and go where the boys go: tailgates, bars and clubs.

Oh yeah, that'll work out well.

38 posted on 08/10/2010 8:34:22 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Nobody reads tag lines.)
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To: livius; muawiyah

I’ve seen this myself and could not understand what was going on.

There was a small number of black men doing construction / repair work next to a shop I work in. The location is a very busy street in downtown Boston and my desk faces a huge floor to ceiling window. Between the window and my going out for a smoke on a regular basis I’ve seen these guys say the most dreadful things to black women of every stripe. But only black women. Maybe they’re saying things to each other about other women but to black women they are very vocal, lots of gestures and so on. Most of the women say nothing, a few turn around and swear at the guys.

But none of the black women appear to be shocked by the behavior.


39 posted on 08/10/2010 8:34:36 PM PDT by warsaw44
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To: jwalsh07

Yes, in the name of compassion the American people and their “leaders” are abject failures.


40 posted on 08/10/2010 8:47:55 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Rush was right when he said America may survive Obama but not the Obama supporters.)
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