There’s no better way for black love to be expressed than through the love black couples share. We often hear about breakups and separations that it seems like no relationship lasts forever, but these couples give us hope that some do stand the test of time. Here are 10 black couples that make us believe in black love.
1. Barack and Michelle Obama
Barack and Michelle are the epitome of black love. The 44th President of the United States and his first lady made their way into the White House and are firmly into our hearts. The two met in 1989 when Michelle, a 25-year-old attorney at a Chicago firm, was tasked with mentoring new employee Barack.
Their first date was a month after meeting and were engaged two years after dating. They tied the knot in October 1992, had two daughters and won the 2008 presidential election making Barack Obama the first African American president.
Since completing two presidential terms, their relationship has continued to grow from strength to strength. In 2018 Michelle released her best-selling memoir, Becoming, sharing details about the couple’s journey.
What makes this couple so inspirational is the love and joy they share. Both are intelligent, accomplished individuals who carry themselves with grace and humility. They don’t shy away from expressing their love for each other or their children, and we often see them laughing together. They combat every negative stereotype about black families, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.
2. Denzel and Pauletta Washington
Although this couple first met on the set of Wilma in 1977, it wasn’t until they worked together a year later that Denzel and Pauletta became romantically involved.
When Denzel proposed for the third time, Pauletta finally accepted, and the two actors married in 1983. They went on to have four children together. Although they went through tough times like any other couple, they remained committed to each other. They have been married for 39 years, and we have every faith they will continue to grow together.
Surprisingly, we know relatively little about Pauletta, considering she’s been with Academy Award Winning actor Dezel for such a long time. But we don’t doubt that she’s been a rock for him through all his fame and success. She is a constant presence beside him in many award shows, and as they will soon celebrate 40 years, the world grows more curious about their story. One thing for sure is that it takes a strong, confident woman to stand happily by a man with Denzel’s career.
3. Ciara & Russell Wilson
Despite his success in American football, many of us didn’t know quarterback Russell Wilson when he started dating singer Ciara back in 2015. Ciara had been engaged to rapper Future, whom she had a son with, but their relationship ended in 2014. Russell and Ciara dated for a year before secretly marrying in 2016, four months after their engagement. Since their wedding, they have welcomed two more children into the world, a son and a daughter.
The world loves this couple. They are quite open about their family sharing adorable videos on social media and speaking about their relationship in interviews. Initially, people assumed Russell was a step down for Ciara after her relationship with Future, as he was considered soft and not an alpha male. Public perception has definitely changed since then.
We love seeing Russell be affectionate and sweet to Ciara, treating her like a queen and loving her son like his own. We all wondered what prayer she said to find a man like Russell. He’s definitely a prize, and it’s great to see these two living their best lives.
We hope this couple stands the test of time.
4. Oprah Winfrey & Stedman Graham
This pair may be the only unmarried black couple on the list, but their life-long partnership is one of the most appealing things about them. They were briefly engaged in 1992, but they called it off when they realised a traditional marriage would not suit them. Stedman has a daughter from a previous marriage and never went on to have children with Oprah. Marriage isn’t for everyone, and they prove it’s not necessary to be in a committed monogamous relationship.
Oprah is one of the most well-known and richest women in the world. The couple met relatively early in her career, so she’s been famous for the duration of their relationship. In a patriarchal society, particularly in the 80s and 90s, when men were typically the breadwinner, it was unusual for a woman to earn more in the relationship.
It’s undeniable that Stedaman is a successful businessman in his own right, but compared to Oprah, his own achievements can take a backseat. In the 1997 New York Times, Stedman reported the struggle of being known as ‘Oprah’s Boyfriend’, his honesty making him all the more likeable. Many men would have allowed this to end their relationship, but confidence in his manhood and love for Oprah allowed him to work through this insecurity.
We have every expectation that they will continue to be life partners. Who knows, maybe they will secretly tie the knot one day, but they definitely do not need to.
5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z
This iconic couple began dating in 2001. With a 12-year age gap, they prove age is just a number when it comes to love. Their relationship has gifted us with hit songs like Bonnie & Clyde, Crazy in Love and Drunk In Love to a name few. They have had a massive impact on black culture, leading the way in music, fashion and self-empowerment.
Although their relationship has suffered infidelity in the past, they turned their pain into art and have come back stronger and more united than ever. They have welcomed three children into the world and continue to reach new milestones in their careers.
In a time of social media, this couple has been surprisingly successful in maintaining their privacy. They are selective in what they share with the public, choosing to keep the intimate details of their relationship within their inner circle. They’re often the first pair to come to mind when thinking of an aspirational black couple because they have both achieved so much success in their individual careers. We wish the best for this couple and hope in a few years, they’ll resume their place higher on lists such as these.
6. Samuel L. and LaTanya Jackson
The saying behind every successful man is a woman couldn’t be more true when it comes to this couple. The two actors met in college and have been together ever since. Samuel was addicted to drugs and alcohol early on in his marriage. With the support of his wife, who threatened to leave him, he saw through rehab and has been in recovery ever since. They have been married for 41-years now and share one daughter together.
LaTanya may be less known than Samuel, but she’s graced our screens plenty of times. You’ve likely seen her in movies or TV shows like Sleepless in Seattle, Luke Cage and Grey’s Anatomy. The two did a hilarious interview on The Graham Norton Show together where they debated whether Samuel had actually proposed to LaTanya. They’re both big personalities, and their chemistry showed us why they work so well together.
They had a fantastic tradition of taking every July off from work to spend time with their daughter. For them, it was important to enjoy life and make an effort to prioritise their family. We hope to see them do more work on camera together, perhaps because they make an entertaining team.
7. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance
Seventh on this list black couple list, we have the beloved Angela and Courtney. The couple married in 1997 in their late 30s and are now celebrating 25 years of marriage. They wanted to have a family shortly after, but, unfortunately, they were still unable to conceive after seven years of trying and IVF treatments. They chose to go down the surrogate route and are now proud parents of twins.
Both are successful actors in their own right who have balanced their careers with their relationship. Their relationship teaches us to never give up hope in more ways than one and in an interview with PeopleTV, Angela shared the secret to her marriage:
Recognizing that we are each individuals, we have our individual dreams and desires and hopes and ways of doing things.”
8. LeBron and Savannah James
LeBron James may be famous for being one of the best NBA basketball players of all time, but his career is not the only impressive thing about his life. LeBron and Savannah were both high schoolers at different schools when they were introduced by a mutual friend. They had their first date at Outback Steakhouse and have been together ever since. They had two sons before LeBron finally popped the question after 10 years together. They were married in 2013 and have since had a daughter.
Savannah has run many successful businesses over the years and is dedicated to her philanthropic work. As LeBron is often away from home, Savannah is the head of the household, taking care of the children and creating the space for him to focus on basketball. She’s stood by his side throughout his career and will undoubtedly continue to do so once he leaves the NBA.
9. Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe
The journey to love and marriage was sweet but not exactly smooth sailing for Sterling and Ryan. They met in freshman year of Stanford University and built a strong friendship that later transitioned into a relationship. Unfortunately, the actors had a few break-ups, with the final one lasting three years, due to family interference.
However, their love was meant to be, and they began dating again when Ryan moved to LA. Their relationship was initially long-distance as they focused on building their acting careers. Eventually, they married in 2006 and have two sons together.
They may not be the most famous black couple on the list, but they are the most charming. The two have done several interviews about their relationship, most notably on the Oprah Winfrey Network, where they discussed their journey.
Sterling’s performance in the hit show This is Us saw him become the first African-American Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama. We’re hopeful that Ryan will soon reach this level of success as they strive to fulfil their dreams for their careers and family.
10. Steph and Ayesha Curry
It was at a church youth group that Steph (Wardell) and Ayesha’s love story began. They met in their mid-teens, but it wasn’t until two years later that they reconnected and started dating. The two tied the knot in 2011 in the church where they met and now have 3 children together.
Steph is one of the greatest shooters in the NBA, but his popularity goes beyond the court. He’s a family man who is not afraid to publicly show his love and support for Ayesha and his children. Actress Ayesha is known for her cooking, evidenced by the release of her cookbook The Seasoned Life and her Food Network show, Ayesha’s Home Kitchen.
Steph surprised Ayesha with a vow-renewal ceremony to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in 2021. We hope the next 10 years will be even better than their first.
Check Out:
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