Exemplary, Strong Black Marriages and Families

For much of the twentieth century, research on Black families was dominated by narratives of deficits and dysfunction. This groundbreaking book tells a different story—one of strength, resilience, and adaptive processes within Black marriages and families. Drawing on decades of scholarship and original research, it highlights how Black couples and families navigate stress, racism, and adversity through faith, social support, fictive kin networks, and community ties. Through compelling interviews and national data, the book explores themes of hope, forgiveness, relational sanctification, and intergenerational care, offering a powerful reframing of Black family life.

This book is an essential resource for students, researchers, and practitioners in family studies, sociology, and African American studies. It is also highly relevant for anyone seeking to understand the enduring strength and resilience of Black families.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Marriage & Family Review.