4 - The Rise of Never-Married Black Singles

Summary

Chapter 4 argues that marriage as a social institution is changing in the United States. One consequence of this is the rise of Black never-married singles as a demographic and those who are also middle class : the Love Jones Cohort. Through the narratives of the Love Jones Cohort and discussion of the various theoretical assumptions that have been put forward to explain declining marriage rates among Black Americans – especially women – Chapter 4 introduces a framework for understanding how and why the Cohort has begun stepping into the limelight, and what the implications of this might be. This chapter also sets out some of the quantitative and theoretical rationalizations that have been put forward or may be relevant in explaining the rise of Black middle-class SALAs in the U.S., backed up by relevant narratives from interviewed members of the Love Jones Cohort.