New Book Explores the Experiences of Black Singles

“WHY ARE YOU STILL SINGLE?” To some, this might be a conversation opener. As a successful Black professional, Associate Professor Kris Marsh of the Department of Sociology (SOCY) is challenging the assumptions and premise of this question, especially when it is posed to Black women.

Marsh knows she’s not an outlier in choosing to be single— in 2019, 45% of Black adults in the United States had never married, compared to 24% of their white counterparts. In her new book, “The Love Jones Cohort” (Cambridge University Press, 2023), Marsh explores the rich and varied lives of Black people who choose to live alone. She interviewed 62 single, childfree Black adults, ages 25 to 56, from the D.C. metro area for the book.

Among Marsh’s key findings is that racism has shrunk the dating pool. Today, Black middle-class single women outnumber men 2 to 1—an imbalance that stems in part from systemic criminalization and mortality of Black men due to social factors—which causes them to either date interracially, remain single, or partner with someone of lower socioeconomic status.

Marsh also proposes that society redefine the concept of “family” to go beyond the stereotype of a married, heterosexual couple with children. Marsh notes that not being included in a

Professor Desai Named AAAS Fellow

DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SONALDE DESAI (SOCY) was named as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“I am deeply honored to have my research recognized by the world’s largest scientific society,” said Desai, who is also the Director of the National Council of Applied Economic Research’s National Data Innovation Centre in New Delhi, India.

Desai’s scientific contributions concern how gender, class, regional inequalities, and social institutions shape the lives of individuals.

typically-defined family has financial implications, including in the current tax structure, which often benefits married couples.

“This book makes three key contributions. First, it de-stigmatizes singlehood. Second, it promotes broader views of Black love. Third, it focuses on the lifestyles of single people beyond their dating practices or marital status,” Marsh said. •

Watch the video of Marsh discussing her book at bit.ly/lovejonescohort

She is working on fielding another round of the India Human Development Survey, a now 20-year-old research effort to track changes in Indian society via 40,000 households during an era of tremendous transition.

“Professor Desai’s multifaceted work sheds light on numerous important social dynamics, especially on how policies can impact women and families in India,” said Dean Susan Rivera. “Her collaborative research inspires our community.” •