The Missing Black Men

So there’s a shortage of marriageable Black men. Of Black educated, professional men to be exact. This isn’t news. It’s so not news that I’m not going to even bother going into details about the how and the why things are the way they are. As a matter of fact I’m sure, if you’re reading this, then you know all the numbers regarding Black men as well as you know your ABC’s.

So the question isn’t why is there a shortage of marriageable Black men. The question is: What are you going to do about it?

So, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to sit around and whine and cry about the situation or are you going to get out there and find you a man who loves you and wants to marry you? If you choose the former you’re on the wrong blog. If it’s the latter keep reading.

The way I see there are only two ways to address this issue of lack of marriageable Black men:

1. Date the men who are available to you
2. Know the difference between what you want and what you need in a man and in a relationship.

The first is simple. If you live in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Work with majority Black people and your social circle is black and you’re saying you want to date interracially, you might have a problem.

The same issue applies in reverse. If you live in a predominantly White neighborhood and you work with majority white people and you’re constantly saying, “Oh no. Only a Brother for me.” Well, my guess is you’ll be spending a lot of lonely nights.

Black women read these next words and take them to heart: IF you want a successful relationship or marriage you HAVE to date the men who are AVAILABLE to you.

By available, I don’t mean any old bum who asks you out. I mean date the men who ask you out who fit what you’re looking for in a man and in a relationship, REGARDLESS of race/ethnicity. Don’t think you’re gonna meet your Black Prince if where you work, shop, live is filled more with Brad Pitts then Denzel Washingtons.

And if you’re a woman who wants to date out and you live in a Black mecca….don’t knock your interracial dreams but date the brothers as well. The reality is unless you plan on moving (and that’s an option) then you need to look at the men you meet every day as potential mates; Black, White or Other.

The second point is important and one that can save a lot of women time and energy invested in bad relationships. Know what you’re looking for in a man and a relationship. And know the difference between what you want and what you need. This is MONUMENTALLY important. Too many times women have this list of things their man MUST have but as they get older the list gets shorter and shorter ’till all that’s required is a pulse and a job (maybe). LOL.

Be honest with yourself about what you NEED. What are the things you can’t live without? Saying you want a man who is 6’1, dark skinned and making six figures is nice but are those attributes you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? (If you say yes then I just can’t help you. lol) What does a man have to have for you to be with him and be happy? What would make him the perfect boyfriend? Husband? Does he need to be romantic? Does he need to have a college education? Does he need to be a professional or is blue collar okay? Kids/No kids? And a host of other things you need to ask yourself.

Once you get the list down to your NEEDS then STICK TO IT. Don’t compromise on that list. Know that this is the list any man you’re looking to get serious with needs to live up too. This is something you should do even if you’re not currently looking for a serious relationship because at some point you will be and when you are, the list will be ready.

Don’t sit around and buy into the message that because you’re Black and female you are destined to be alone. Barring some pretty extraordinary circumstance no one has to be alone. So make sure you don’t end up as one of those lonely, Black female statistics.