What's Love Got to Do with It?: Understanding and Healing the Rift Between Black Men and Women

by Donna L. Franklin

Book Overview

Relationships between black men and women in America are in crisis--it's time to figure out what's gone wrong and start the healing process.

The current divorce rates for black couples have quadrupled since 1960 and is now double that of the general population; rates of domestic violence in black marriages are skyrocketing; and nearly half of married black men admit to having been unfaithful. In What's Love Got to Do with It?...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743203216
• ISBN13: 9780743203210
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Let's start to communicate about healing

There aren't too many books written about African American marriage. It's unfortunate because information is the key that opens many doors. Yet we are left with limitations placed on the information we have about marriage. Our ancestors and parents were so busy avoiding the often painful task of analyzing the past of failed relationships. We were left ignorant to the tools of what works. We need to discuss what doesn't work in order to understand what actually works. Donna L. Franklin has begun to open the doors to communication in this secretive area for us. Thank you, Donna. We need to move forward. Let's talk about our African American relationships. The youth are learning by the failed examples they witness. Let's leave them with more than that. [....]

What's Love Got to Do With It?

I doubt that I would even consider another relationship, unless I knew that we were both conscious of the information provided by Donna L. Franklin's book. It contains well written and informative validation to theories and facts that serve to answer the largely ignored phenomenon of why it has been so difficult for too many black couples to enter into and remain in stable relationships.Even the therapy sessions I once attended, in an attempt to save my family eluded this dynamic. The therapist was seemingly unaware or otherwise unable to implement this information in addressing the unique circumstances associated with black couples...As a matter of fact, I realize later, and as a black woman herself, she was probably struggling with many of these dynamics in her own relationships... The answer begins with awareness!!! This book should be standard required reading for all African Americans and Americans in general need to be aware of this information also. It's just part of the healing process for the whole country.There is no more time to ignore the combined effects of racism and genderism.I apologize to no one for being strong, but I sure am sick of being strong all of the time, especially while being resented and disrespected for it in the home...that I bought....Thank You Donna!

Why Can't We Just Get Along ???

Donna Franklin's new book, What's Love Got To Do With It, is a passionate,unequivocal indictment of racism and white supremecy in American society. Impeccable scholarship becomes a tool for her laser-like examination of what has gone wrong with black male/female relationships, and no stone is left unturned. No-one is let off the hook. Not white males. Not white females. Not black males or black females. A crime has been committed. Who is guilty of this crime? Who must pay? Who must be held accountable? For the destruction of black male/female relationships? The destruction of the black family? The destruction and denigration of African culture and consciousness? The insanity of homocide, suicide and fratricide in the black community? Slavery is Donna Franklin's answer. Miss Anne and Uncle Charlie out back, in the cabin, in the bushes, in yo bed room, in de school room, in yo mind. Insanity passing for sanity. Black man walkin' down the street mumblin' to himself, holdin' himself like he gotta piss. Black woman standing on the street corner with a blond wig on her head charging two dollars. Apein' mr charlie. Apein' miss anne! Playing in the dark, writin' blues for mister charlie, wearing black skin and a white mask, with no name in the street!! Because - Nobody knows my name!!! Not even me! What's yo name Boy??Franz Fanon said it best: "The Negro is a slave who has been allowed to assume the attitude of [the] master. The white man is a master who has allowed his slaves to eat at his table." "Relationships between black men and women in America are in crisis," says Donna Franklin. "The current divorce rate for blacks is four times the 1960 level and double that of the general population." "Interracial marriages have risen from a reported 51,000 in l960 to 311,000 in l997." "The rates of violence between black men and women are higher than those of other races." ". . .Seventy-two percent of the African American husbands reported using a confrontational style of dealing with marital conflict. . ." "Forty-four percent of married black men admit to having been unfaithful to their wives, almost double the percentage for whites." Sixty percent of young black males between the ages of 18 and 24 are caught up in the criminal justice system. In the end Donna calls for healing. But healing in this instance must be spiritual as well as social. The cancer has spead too far. The community is too sick for surgery or psychotherapy. To heal the rift between black men and women will take time. But time alone won't do the job, as Donna implies. We must understand the history and place today's black male/female relationships within the context of that history. This book goes a long way toward helping us to understand -- to understand that history and context. Holding up a mirror to American society, Donna Franklin reveals strange fruit hanging from the poplar tree. No matter how painful, America, you must have the courage to read this book!!!!

What's Love got to do with it?

This book provides a much needed historical analysis of the emergence of the current tensions found between black men and women. I have always been interested in africian-american history and this book is one of the best history books I've ever read. It is supebly written and carefully documented. The author even provides hope by asking the reader a series of questions that can help him/her determine (if answered honestly) whether they are part of the problem or part of the solution. This book is both informative and thought provoking and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the black family or gender relations in the african-american community.

Let's Talk!!

Donna Franklin provides an excellent basis upon which African American men and women can talk about the history that currently effects our relationships. This fabulous book is one to share with your partner. I shared this book with my mother. She, as I, was able to relate to the entire book. It allowed us to share different experiences and talk about our experiences from a generational perspective. Kudos to Donna Franklin for having the courage and vision to write this needed book!