By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
This is sooooo wonderful! I recently received this post from BLK Dating APP! And I thought, "How awesome! Most of our focus on Black History Month is on
historical data and events. We have all kinds of programs, fundraisers, seminars, dinners, and tributes to Black History. But somehow we overlook the most important and intrinsic factor of Being Proud Black People of Consequence: OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND OURSELVES THAT HAS SUSTAINED US FOR CENTURIES - regardless of whether we are on the Continent of Africa, or in the DIASPORA - it's our undying love for each other - whether expressed openly or silently - that has made it possible for us to go the distance, make the ultimate sacrifices, and always stand for and with each other regardless of the danger, poverty, other trials and tribulations. THERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH LIKE BLACK LOVE. So, I'm sharing - hopefully you will, in turn, do likewise!
NOTE: The world of dating has experienced a seismic shift over the past decade, with dating apps at the forefront of this revolution. While these apps have provided a convenient way for people to connect, they have also perpetuated issues of exclusion and discrimination, particularly for Black singles. In response, BLK has emerged as a new player in the market, providing an exclusive platform where Black men and women can find meaningful connections with people who share similar interests. With a user-friendly interface and a personalized list of profiles, BLK is poised to revolutionize the way Black singles navigate the world of online dating.
I am sharing an amazing initiative from BLK, the largest dating app for Black singles.
BLK is celebrating Black History Month with an initiative that honors the enduring legacy and evolution of Black Love. The dating app has commissioned a group of talented Black artists to create an inspiring timeline of artwork that highlights the importance of Black Love throughout history. The artists include Davian Chester, Sabine Quetent, Halimah Smith and Asaad Thorne.
The artwork, which will be unveiled daily on BLK's Instagram, is a beautiful tribute to the unbreakable bond between Black couples, and to the community's resilience and strength, and reminds us of the profound depth and richness of Black Love. In a world where the Black community's stories are often overlooked or forgotten, this celebration of Black Love serves as a reminder of the community's resilience and strength.
HIGH RESOLUTION ARTWORK IS HERE.
Illustrating the Timeless Legacy of Black Love
BLK Dating App Celebrates Black History Month with
Artistic Timeline of the Evolution Black Love
In Black culture, the unbreakable bond between Black couples has been a source of strength and resilience for generations. This bond has withstood the test of time and has played a crucial role in shaping the community's identity. To commemorate the impact of Black Love, BLK, the premier dating app for Black singles, is using Black History Month as a backdrop to celebrate this important element of Black culture.
BLK has commissioned some of the country's most talented Black artists to illustrate the history of Black Love. Each artist was given historical facts about Black Love, which they have reimagined through their own artistic mediums. The resulting timeline and artwork will be unveiled daily on BLK's Instagram. This impressive collection of artwork from Black artists around the country is a testament to the rich and complex history of Black Love.
The talented artists that BLK has worked with for this project are Davian Chester, Sabine Quetant, Halimah Smith, and Asaad Thorne. Their artwork showcases the beauty of Black Love and its enduring legacy throughout history. Although the art pieces themselves are as diverse and varied as the artists, they share a common thread: the profound depth and richness of Black Love.
- Davian Chester's artistry offers a poignant portrayal of traditional African marriage customs, including the betrothal ceremony and the exchange of a bride price, which serves as a symbol of the bond between two families. Through his masterful works, Chester also highlights the devastating impact of the transatlantic slave trade on familial ties and the remarkable resilience of Black communities in forging new connections and support systems.
- Asaad Thorne's art celebrates the symbolism of the "Jumping the Broom" tradition in Black weddings as a representation of unbreakable bonds between newlyweds, paying homage to African American cultural heritage. Through his visuals, Thorne showcases the resilience of Black couples and their strength in building and sustaining loving relationships in the face of systemic adversity.
- Sabine Quetant’s powerful artwork celebrates the pivotal role of women in revolutionary movements and the transformative impact of groundbreaking works like The Color Purple and Beloved, while also highlighting the cultural shifts that challenged stereotypes and expanded the understanding of Black love and relationships in popular media.
- Hamilah Smith's artwork depicts the many facets of present-day Black Love, from the celebration of Black Marriage Day and the embodiment of #BlackLoveGoals in President Barack and Michelle Obama, to the landmark decision of Obergefell v. Hodges and the ever-evolving world of online dating. Through her art, she highlights the resilience, strength, and beauty of Black love, as well as the challenges and progress in the ongoing quest for equality and inclusivity.
Black Love is more than just a romantic relationship between two individuals. It is a celebration of the community's history, identity, and culture. By commissioning these artists to create pieces that celebrate Black Love, BLK is not only honoring this important element of Black culture, but also telling the stories of our community in a unique and powerful way.
In a world where the Black community's stories are often overlooked or forgotten, this celebration of Black Love serves as a reminder of the community's resilience and strength. BLK's Black Love celebration is a beautiful tribute to the past, present, and future of Black Love, and to the talented Black artists who bring these stories to life. We invite you to look at the stunning artwork created by these talented Black artists and to join us in celebrating the unbreakable bond between Black couples that has kept our community resilient for generations.
DAVIAN CHESTER
900 BC | Traditional Engagement Rites
In Africa, diverse marriage ceremonies are marked by a common initial rite: the introduction of the betrothed couple. Among the Yoruba people, this is referred to as ‘Mo mi i mo e’ which translates to "know me and let me know you", while the Igbo people term it ‘Ikutu aka n’ulo’ which means "Knock on the door". This important occasion, which involves the families of both the bride and groom, sets the stage for the traditional practices that are central to the engagement ceremony in many African communities, particularly within Nigerian ethnic groups.
300 BC | Bride Price: An African Tradition
In many African traditions, marriage involves a union between two families and an engagement ceremony that often includes the payment of a dowry to the bride's family. This payment, also known as lobola or bride price, has evolved from cattle to cash over time and is a symbol of the bond between the two families. Bride price serves various purposes, including ensuring sexual fidelity and premarital virginity, as well as demonstrating the groom's ability to provide for the bride. Different African cultures have varying engagement ceremony customs, such as the Moaga tribe's "Poug PousSôm" ceremony in Burkina Faso, during which the groom's family offers a negotiated bride price that can take the form of money, animals, cereals, kitchen utensils, clothes, or services.
1500s – 1700s | Love and The Middle Passage
The transatlantic slave trade not only uprooted millions of Africans from their homelands but also destroyed the fundamental building block of human society: the family. With many Africans in the prime of their lives for marriage and companionship, relationships and family ties were severed, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts and shattered dreams. Despite these harsh realities, Black people's resilience allowed them to create new forms of familial connections and support systems that would prove to be essential in their fight for liberation and the preservation of their culture.
ASAAD THORNE
1800s | Jumping the Broom
"Jumping the Broom" is a cherished tradition at Black weddings, where the newlyweds hold hands and leap over a broom to solidify their union. Its roots date back to West Africa, where brooms were waved over couples to ward off evil spirits. The broom was then placed on the ground, and the couple would jump over it, signifying their unbreakable bond. Whoever jumped the broom the highest was designated as the household decision-maker, adding a playful element to the occasion. Through this cherished custom, Black couples pay homage to their cultural heritage and celebrate the enduring power of love.
1860s | Post-Slavery Love
In the aftermath of the Civil War, former slaves in the former Confederate States of America sought to legitimize their unions through marriage, but many faced significant obstacles. Local jurisdictions throughout the South, driven by racism, imposed exorbitant fees to discourage African Americans from marrying or outright refused to grant them access to courts or licenses. For many, the fight for the right to love was a battle for human dignity and equality. Despite these challenges, Black couples persisted in their pursuit of love and happiness, seeking alternative ways to formalize their unions, such as jumping over brooms, a cherished African American wedding tradition. This struggle for marriage equality was a testament to the resilience of Black communities in the face of injustice.
Late 1800s – Early 1900s | Black Love Prevails
In the late 1800s, Black Americans placed great value on the institution of marriage. They consistently married at higher rates than their white counterparts, with Black women marrying earlier than white women. Astonishingly, the U.S. Census reports that from 1890 to 1930, the percentage of Black men aged 35 and older who remained unmarried was only around 8%, lower than their white peers. For Black women, the rate was around 7%, settling at 10% by 1950. These statistics are a testament to the enduring strength and commitment of Black communities towards building and sustaining loving, committed relationships in the face of adversity.
SABINE QUETENT
1950s – 1970s | Black Love and Activism
Throughout history, power couples have played pivotal roles in revolutionary movements. While women and queer people were often relegated to the sidelines in civil rights movements dominated by patriarchy, the wives of appointed leaders were themselves powerful agents of change. Icons such as Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Kathleen Cleaver, and Miriam Makeba, among others, worked tirelessly to organize the movement and further the legacies of activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and Stokely Carmichael. These visionary women supported, assisted, and even led the charge in the fight for equality and justice.
1970s – 1980s | A Different Perspective
Amidst a range of literary, cultural, and political advancements throughout the 1970s, queer Black love emerged as a prominent theme in popular culture during the '70s and '80s. The Color Purple, Alice Walker's seminal novel depicting bisexuality, lesbian love, incest, and rape within the African American community, earned the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, while Toni Morrison's success with Beloved helped create an environment for artists to explore love, sexuality, race, gender, and class in new and unconventional ways. Together, these works and others like them helped catalyze a revolution of creative expression, driving the exploration of previously taboo topics and ultimately changing the cultural landscape of love and intimacy for generations to come.
1980s – 1990s | Black Love in Popular Culture
As cultural norms shifted in the latter half of the 20th century, Black love and relationships underwent a dramatic transformation in popular media. TV shows such as The Jeffersons, Family Matters, and Martin brought a fresh perspective to depictions of Black love, while films like Love Jones, Boomerang, and The Best Man challenged stereotypes and highlighted the resilience and beauty of Black romantic relationships. Meanwhile, works like Set It Off and The Color Purple provided powerful portrayals of queer love, broadening the scope of what it means to love and be loved in the Black community.
HALIMAH SMITH
2000s | Black Love Triumphs
The year 2003 marked the inception of Black Marriage Day, a yearly commemoration of the fortitude, significance, and elegance of Black American relationships, created by Bisa Muhammad, and celebrated annually each March. Soon after, the historic election of President Barack Obama, who served two terms and, alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, became the epitome of #BlackLoveGoals. It's noteworthy that the White House, which the Obamas occupied, was constructed by enslaved Black Americans, serving as a powerful reminder of how far the Black community has come in the quest for equality and love.
2010s | Black Love is Black Love
The historic Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, marked a watershed moment for the Black LGBTQ+ community. The landmark 5-4 ruling granted same-sex couples in all 50 states the right to full, equal recognition under the law, finally establishing marriage equality as the law of the land. Beyond marriage, Black love is also being redefined in diverse ways, with new explorations of gender identity, polyamory, and non-monogamous relationships. By elevating the importance of platonic relationships, radical self-love, and community-building, Black love continues to be a powerful force of revolution and beauty.
TODAY | Love in the Digital Age
Thanks so much to BLK Dating App for sharing this wonderful collection with me, and allowing me to share it with you! Now I charge you to share this widely. Our love goes beyond Valentine's day - Our Black Love is 365/24/7!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
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| Gloria DULAN-Wilson |
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