Naming the Opportunity: Marriage as a Cornerstone

Marriage can of course mean a lifetime of love, romance, and not to mention great sex; however, it’s also a foundation for creating wealth, improving health, and fostering family stability. Studies consistently show Black marriage as an indicator of financial emotional, and child-rearing advantage.

• Financial Stability: Married Black couples with children experience household incomes that are 173% higher, according to the 2020 Census.

• Health & Happiness: Nature Human Behavior found that married people are 79% less likely to develop depression and General Social Survey (GSS) reveals that 40% of married people consider themselves "very happy".

• Child Welfare: Children born to married parents are less likely to experience low birth weight or preterm birth. They graduate high school and pursue higher education at higher rates, have better mental health and engage in fewer risky behaviors.

These findings suggest that while modern youth increasingly see marriage as a capstone of adulthood (something you do after you've explored life, established a career, and even had children), marriage can be a cornerstone of adulthood, a critical starting point for long-term family success, offering not only personal stability, but also resources necessary for future generations to thrive.

Imagine Detroit families with

• $150 million in new generational wealth,

• zero preventable birth-related deaths, and

• 100% graduation rates!

Marriage isn't the silver bullet, but it can get us a lot closer!