Activists To Celebrate "Black Marriage Day"

WASHINGTON -Marriage activists in hundreds of communities around the country will highlight the benefits of married life and offer celebrations to strengthen and promote marriage in the Black community. From a free dinner program in DC to several events in Dallas to a movie premier in Wichita of "Men Aint Boys" by Lamar and Ronnie Tyler to an evening event in Detroit at the Charles Wright Museum to dancing lessons in Boston; organizations, groups and families are taking the time to spotlight couples in the Black community that are "Married and Proud of It".

Wedded Bliss Foundation is also encouraging local Black Marriage Day sponsors across the country to involve singles and youth in their Black Marriage Day events on Sunday, March 27, 2011, with film festivals, workshops, conferences, marriage vow renewals and much more.

"Healthy married couples in the Black community are nearly invisible from the media but they exist. All we generally hear about is the pain. We're creating a cultural shift in the Black community to reconsider the benefits of marriage and show the many couples who are, "Married and Proud of It"," Wedded Bliss Foundation Executive Director Nisa Muhammad said. "Much of what we hear about marriage in the Black community is a blues song about low rates, out of wedlock births, escalating divorces and how somebody done somebody wrong. We want to replace that blues song with a love song of joy."

Black Marriage Day has been celebrated annually at locally sponsored events hosted by faith-based and community groups on the fourth Sunday of March since 2003. Marriage activists in more than 300 communities participated in 2010, Mrs. Muhammad said.

Wedded Bliss Foundation and Black Marriage Day activities have been featured nationally in Black Enterprise, Ebony and Essence magazines, on CNN, and the Michael Baisden Show.