#WaitingForBoaz: Expressions of Romantic Aspiration and Black Christian Femininities on Social Media

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since the initial reports of a decline in Black women’s marriage rates in the 21st century, a confluence of Black male voices have risen to the fore of an enterprise designed to correct the inadequacies identified as the causal factors for Black women’s singleness. Against the backdrop of this dominate narrative some Black women have redefined singleness, marriage, and the terms of navigating courtship within a Black, Christian cultural context. Their counter story manifests through a culturally specific social media discourse focused on the realities and aspirations around romance for Black women that deploys the biblical figures of Boaz and Ruth. This article focuses on three themes that emerged from analysis of 100 social media posts that reference the Boaz-Ruth narrative: marriage as a divine assurance; the legitimacy of selective courting practices; and romantic relationships as a site for performing autonomous Black, Christian femininities.