Black couples renew vows to make statement

By Norm Parish

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Sunday, Mar. 26 2006

Wearing their Sunday best, Willie and Jane Wallace slowly marched along a

red-carpeted aisle before proudly stating their devotion to one another. But

they weren’t the only couple who retook the plunge Sunday at St. Peter AME

Church in St. Louis.

They were among 26 couples who restated their marriage vows as part of National

Black Marriage Day. The Wallaces were married 57 years ago.

“I guess this is ancient history,” quipped Willie Wallace, 80, a retired

correctional officer from St. Louis. “I knew marriage was the right thing to

do. But I didn’t think it would last this long.”

Across the country, the marriages of African-American couples such as the

Wallaces were being touted as examples of successful marriages for younger

people. The ceremonies also were held to help strengthen marriages.

In St. Louis, All Saints Episcopal Church was among the local groups that held

events to promote marriage.

Overall, about 150 groups nationally participated in National Black Marriage

Day, an event that has grown since it first started with 30 groups in 2003. (more…)

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And who said “Marriage is for white people“?