A continuation of the inspiration of Love.

1.  President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama

When then Senator, Barack Obama became the nation’s first African American President, in 2008, his victory gave nations around the world hope.  With the love displayed between he and his wife, Michelle, a new hope was instilled in the minds and hearts of African Americans and people of color world-wide—the hope and demonstration of everlasting love.  While President Obama leads the country, the first lady has redefined the role of women—teaching all ethnicities that women can have successful careers, families, and children.  Her first two years as First Lady brought about early comparisons between herself and former first lady Jacqueline Onassis—due to both ladies astute designer style and mannerisms.   Michelle has in her own right become a fashion

Icon-ista for the 21st century.  She has also been praised for her stance on health and combating teen obesity.   On her relationship with the President, she says, “Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, ‘Who are you as a person?’ Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. When you’re dating a man, you should always feel good. … You shouldn’t be in a relationship with somebody who doesn’t make you completely happy and make you feel whole.”

2.   B. (Barbara) Smith and husband Dan Gasby

B.  Smith and husband Dan Gasby not only found love the second time around, but these two soul mates met later on in each other’s lives, she 40 and he 38 when they married in 1992.  (So much for the erroneous speculation that black women aren’t getting married—to black men).

Lifestyle Expert B. (Barbara) Smith has spent decades redefining breaking all the established rules  regality and style for every woman of color.  She is a pioneer and expert on fine, elegant—yet affordable living.  A former fashion model, Ms. Smith was the 1st African American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle Magazine, in 1976.    She originally hosted her own television show, B. Smith, With Style for NBC affiliate stations.  Now her efforts are concentrated on running three successful restaurants, authoring numerous cookbooks, and overseeing her many home collections, her 1st of which premiered in Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Her husband, Dan Gasby, a former advertising executive, has a long and successful career in the television industry.  As a successful, creator and Executive Producer of many popular programs, such as the Essence Awards.  His talent and expertise has ranged in producing all forms of media.  Mr. Gasby along with his wife B.,  created and produced B. Smith with Style.  The show was the 1st nationally published lifestyle magazine by an African American woman and the forerunner to O Magazine.   As Chairman of B. Smith Enterprises Ltd., Dan Gasby’s experiences and expertise in television, marketing and production were essential to the growth and expansion of B. Smith in the lifestyle arena. He, along with his wife, created and Co-Executive produced four primetime lifestyle specials for TV One, a network devoted to bringing quality programming to African American families.

The specials include a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and an upcoming Juneteenth show. He also launched B. Smith Group Licensing with an exclusive relationship with top retailer Bed Bath & Beyond. As part of B.Smith’s overall brand strategy, he developed and negotiated relationships with top Fortune 500 corporations General Mills via Betty Crocker and Pillsbury products, Colgate Palmolive, Merck and McCormick subsidiary Lawry’s seasonings.

Mr. Gasby also oversees the day to day operations for all three B. Smith restaurants located in New York’s Times Square theatre district, Washington DC’s historic Union Station, and the scenic Long Island Hampton Village of Sag Harbor, New York. The B. Smith Restaurant Group was formed in May 1998 and is in the process of expanding its holdings. The DC-based restaurant recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Dan Gasby is a member of the Board of Trustees at American University in Washington, D.C., and is a longtime member of the Board of Governors of the International Radio and Television Society Foundation.

3.    CNN News Anchor Roland Martin & wife Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin

Anyone who has ever tuned in to heavy hitter, cable news network CNN, has no doubt been introduced to the, no-nonsense, direct, take no prisoners, tell- it- like- it- is, outlandish correspondent Roland Martin.  His stance of many political issues has made him one of the network’s most controversial- yet enjoyable people to watch.   Roland may be a man with strong direct opinions, but his wife, the Rev. Jacquie Hood-Martin is no walking doormat.  Meet the Rev. Jacquie Hood,  a twelve year ordained minister, noted for her inspiring women’s ministry.  With her matter-of-fact teaching and leadership style, Mrs. Martin has been preaching and teaching the word of God to women all across the country.  It’s no wonder that two such fiery personalities would meet and fall in love.

On marriage, neither Roland nor Jacquie were looking for relationships.  Both were healing from their own pain (his—a recent divorce; hers’ – dealing with the death of a fiancee).  It’s no surprise that when God divinely arranged their union, Roland was the first to say, according to a sitdown interview with TJTV, that he “ain’t trying to hear that.”  The two made no bones early on in their meetings of their vehement dislike for one another;  but after  several run in’s at their church and finally a date set-up by mutual friends – the Miracle of the Divine Spark of Love rose within both of  the “un” – willing vessels – the two have been hooked to the hip ever since.  The Martins believe that in order to have a successful relationship, both parties need to have a strong sense of who they are and to, according to Roland, “ realize that you may not know what you need right now, but God knows what you need down the line.

4.   John H. Johnson & Eunice Walker Johnson

Before the deaths of John Johnson, in 2005 and his wife Eunice in 2010, they both left a stellar mark on the world of fashion, publishing, and all media.  John Johnson was the founder and publisher of The Johnson Publishing Company and was the 1st African American to appear on Forbes 400.   Eunice, was responsible for lending “Ebony” Magazine its trademark name.  She was an admirer of the “mystique of fine black ebony wood.”  Mrs. Johnson, was an executive at Johnson Publishing Company.  She was  best-known as the founder and director of the Ebony Fashion Fair, which was started in the 1950s as a hospital fundraiser and became an annual fashion tour that highlighted fashion for African-American women that ran until a year before hear death.

The Johnson’s met in 1940 at a dance hall called Bacon’s Casino in Chicago. The couple were married in Selma in 1941 and returned to Chicago, where she worked by his side as he started their publishing company with $500 borrowed against his mother’s furniture.   A close business partner of her husband’s since the beginning of Johnson Publishing in 1942, Mrs. Johnson remained the company’s secretary-treasurer at the time of her death and for years wrote a monthly fashion feature for Ebony magazine.

Mrs. Johnson, greatest venture, since inception, the Ebony Fashion Fair has produced more than 4,000 shows and raised more than $55 million for charity, according to Johnson Publishing.

The legacy of the Johnson Publishing empire is now run by the Johnsons’ daughter, Linda Johnson Rice.

May their love of over six decades be a true inspiration to all.  Their story is Black Love—Black History.

Other Notable Mentions

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. and wife Sharon Malone, M.D.

Congressman Charlie Rangel & wife Alma

General Colin Powell & Alma Johnson Powell

Contributing Resources:

http://blackmarriages.wordpress.com/

http://diamondsandicecream.blogspot.com/

http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/21/roland-martin-and-wife-jacquie-hood-martin-get-personal-with-deya-direct-video/

http://ballerwives.com/2009/07/17/cnn-anchor-roland-martins-wife-rev-jacquie-hood-martin/roland-martin-wife-rev-jacquie-hood-martin/

http://www.bsmith.com/about_dan.php

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6197911