Black American marriage is a topic that continues to circulate the media forum. Not only is the average Black American searching through their own thoughts and the advise of others to figure out relationships and marriage in the black community, so are the most prestigious institutions in America such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford.
American Slavery ended in 1865, yet during our ancestors darkest hours, they still chose to marry one another. American history reveals that Black Americans had the highest marital rates from 1890 to roughly 1970. The question is, what happened?
Marriage Pre and Post Antebellum
During American Slavery, marriage was illegal between two slaves. A quote from abolitionist William Goodell reads as follows:
The slave has no rights. Of course, he or she cannot have the rights of a husband, a wife. The slave is a chattel, and chattels do not marry. The slave is not ranked among sentient beings, but among things;’ and things are not married.
I couldn’t imagine the weight of indentured (and what must of felt like permanent) servitude, but in the midst of this perilous time, our Black American ancestors still chose to make their union one before God.
According to LDHI, the marriage ceremony took place by jumping the broom and/or having a festive party to commemorate the joining of two into one. When the spouse of an enslaved person was transferred to another plantation and they could not receive a pass to go and visit, they would risk danger by going anyway.
The close of the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment led to the abolishment of slavery and the legal right for the now freed Black American to marry.
In 1865, The Freedman’s Bureau issued tens of thousands of marriage certificates within their 7 year lifespan. They most likely would’ve issued thousands more had the wicked attitudes of that time not forced them to close in 1872.
Black Americans had the highest marital rate in the country in 1890 at a staggering 80%. The 2012 U.S. Census Bureau released a report that Black Americans, aged 35+ were more likely to be married than White Americans until around the 1960’s in which case they swapped places, increasing the number of never married Black Americans from 10% to over 25% by the 1980’s and an estimated 49% as of 2025.
So what happened?
Incarceration
A Google search on why Black Americans aren’t married will give you recycled talking points that have circulated the media since the late 1970’s. According to public opinion, the reason that Black Americans are no longer married is due to incarceration rates, economics, and educational attainment.
In 1960, black men were incarcerated at a rate of 1.3% and by 1977, that number jumped to about 4%. A 1995 report indicated the number of incarcerated black men doubled from 1985-1995 resulting in 7% of adult black men behind bars.
Though these statistics are disheartening, the end of the Civil War also saw a drastic imprisonment increase among black men. In 1880, black men were over 3 times more likely to be imprisoned than their white counterparts. The 1920’s reflected a Black male incarceration rate of 0.9% and by 1940, 2% of black men were imprisoned.
Respectful of the population of African-Americans in 1920 compared to the African-American population of 1960, black men were still targeted under mass incarceration yet we maintained an extremely high marital rate.
Even with mass incarceration, black women loved black men and used Love to display the revolution against the legislative oppressive practices enacted against our men by the wicked powers that be.
Economics and Educational Attainment
Another common misconception about the lack of black marriages are economics and educational attainment. It is often correlated that black women earn more degrees than black men therefore they out earn black men.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Women’s Bureau released a report in March of this year citing the following statistics on the educational attainment level of Black men and women:
Black Men:
Some College=18%
Associate Degree=11%
Bachelor’s Degree=21%
Advanced Degree= 10%
Black Women:
Some College=17%
Associate Degree=13%
Bachelor’s Degree= 23%
Advanced Degree= 17%
The DOL released an additional 2026 report detailing the wages of American workers broken down into race and gender. Black men account for roughly 7,184 black laborers with an average weekly earning of $1,016.000 while black women account an estimated for 8,448 black laborers averaging a weekly earning of $956.00.
Some would say that this is because their is a wage disparity for black women workers but according to Black Demographics, 42% of black men held professions in white collar, 38% in blue collar, and 20% in the service industry. Black Demographics also reported that 65% of black women held white collar positions, 10% blue collar, and 25% in the service industry.
According to NewsWeek, an blue collar positions such as an elevator technician earn an average salary of $106,000 a year, with top earners pulling in $149,000. This salary is the equivalent to an attorney or software engineer. Commercial and Industrial Technicians earn an average salary of $85,000 with top earners making $180,000. Railroad Workers make an average of $75,000 with top earners making around $100,000 according to Forbes.
In simple terms, more workers does not equate to higher wages if those workers are in low paying fields. Blue collar work is the emerging class of high wages. Though White collar has the highest annual salary, high demand and labor shortages have caused a blossoming blue collar class in terms of annual salary.
Choose Love & Marriage
In 1890, African-Americans were the poorest demographic in the United States of America, we had the highest illiteracy rates, and yet we still had enough wisdom and understanding to know that loving each other in Holy Matrimony under God, could guide us through the most horrific of times.
The Black American has been battling with mass incarceration, economic disparity, and barriers in educational attainment since our ancestors were brought here in slave ships. The greatest social experiment against the black demographic was not poverty or illiteracy; it was the Destruction of the Black Nuclear Family, or any familial structure for that matter.
The revolution will not be fought with firearms, grenades, theft, or murder, but with Love❤
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Romans 12:9-10
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in Love. Honor one another above yourselves.
1 Peter 4:8
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, Love each other deeply, because Love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
With Love,
Mother Ocia❤🌹