Ebony magazine is releasing their Valentines Day issues soon and the issue is going to cover the 15 most powerful Black celebrity couples. There will be three different covers to this issue. One with President Obama and Michelle, another with Jay-Z and Beyonce, and the last will feature Necole Ari Parke and Boris Kodjoe. Okay sounds like some solid choices overall so far. The issues itself will also include Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz as well as T.I. and Tiny. Yes, T.I. and Tiny. When I first read it, I was confused as well.

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Although the images for the covers came out beautifully, the topic itself left me unfulfilled. Aside from the Obama’s, Bey and Jay, and Necole and Boris, some of the other choices named are not impressive. Which leaves me to ponder, are these the only images of Black love that we have? Although Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are both two very talented individuals it has been publicly noted that the beginning of their relationship was filled with deceit, drama and infidelity. However, they are married now so most people are simply forgetting and giving them a pass. Oh Lord and T.I. and Tiny? Why are they on this list? No seriously. Lets start with T.I. being unable to stay out of jail, off of drugs and out of trouble all together. Not to mention that he has been known for his cheating. Tiny is not much better as she pretty much co-signs all of his bad boy behavior as if she is afraid to expect more from him. Are these the only examples we have of Black love for the next generation? Is this all we have to work with? If so then it explains why Black men and Black women are in a constant state of confusion with one another. Look at the relationships of the people that we place on unrealistic pedestals.

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I question the article’s choices because not everyone has positive images of Black love and a relationship between a man and woman in their lives or in their households. Not everyone has an example of this that they can see and understand as a model. So they often put the celebrities and their lifestyles on pedestals and use them as models of what Black love is. They will take articles like this and use it as a resource. I was blessed because I at least had my Grandparents relationship as a model of a positive, healthy, loving relationship between a Black man and Black woman. Not a perfect one but a healthy one. This only leads me to wonder who the other couples are that were chosen? In reality, there are not a lot of Black couples in entertainment to choose from. Hopefully some of the other choices have more merit and less messiness.

Still, I have to ask, with images like T.I. and Tiny being paraded as our examples of Black love, can we really expect the next generation of little Black girls and boys to achieve healthy Black love? I want to celebrate Black love, I really do. But, can we have more diverse, positive images as examples?