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UNC researcher finds growing number of black middle class are single arcC-lAL TO THE CHRONin F For generations, social sci entists have defined the black middle class in family terms, as married couples with chil dren. But a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that a growing percentage of the black middle class are young single people living alone. "We've dispelled the assumption among scholars that blacks have to be married to be middle class," said Kris Marsh, Ph.D., a post-doctoral scholar at UNC's Carolina Population Center and author of the study, which appears in the December issue of the journal Social Forces. Pop culture already reflects this trend. In her study, Marsh names single middle-class blacks the Love Jones cohort, borrowing the title of a 1997 movie about a similar group. And, in the acronymic spirit of social science, which gave us DINKs (dual-income, no kids) and DEWKs (dual earners with kids). Marsh coined the phrase SALA for people in all income brackets who are single (never mar ried) and living alone, which includes Oprah Winfrey, Secretary of ? State Condoleezza Rice and radio and TV personality Tavis Smiley. Marsh and her colleagues studied United States census data from 1980, 1990 and 2000T The data show that among the black middle class, ages <25 to 44, the Love Jones cohort more than doubled its share between 1980 and 2000, a ly overlooked by academics, Marsh said, because it is con ceptually easier to think in terms of families, and in American culture single peo tional transference of wealth" - basically, without children, what will happen with their money and property? from 5.8 percent to more than 14 per cent. Meanwhile, the percentage of mar ried couples, living together, with chil dren declined from 64.6 percent to 48 percent in that same time Deriod. By following the data through three decades, the study also confirmed that SAL As. Marsh and especially the Love Jones cohort, do not simply delay marriage but remain single and continue to accumulate wealth. i ins cumrauicis previous research that said a reduction in marriage and childbearing has created a black middle class in stagnation or in decline. Instead, Marsh said, her work reveals a vibrant population, but the composi tion is changing. "Numerous studies sug gest that the black middle class has been losing econom ic ground - objectively and relative to whites," said Karyn Lacy, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan who was not part of the study. "Marsh's innovative study makes clear that scholars reached this conclusion because they've been focus- / ing on the wrong people. By 1 looking exclusively at mar ried couples, scholars miss the group, which is slowly becoming a fixture in the black middle class - single black professionals who do not marry or become parents. Their status as single and middle about everything that we think we know about life in the middle and will demand new research on the consumption patterns, housing preferences and lifestyles of'this influen tial group," Lacy said. Acknowledging the rise of the Love Jones cohort, and the decline in married-with-chil dren households, also chal lenges a neoconservative per spective that marriage is the way into middle class. It also challenges policies that sup port marriage, which could be an issue in the 2008 presiden tial election. "Identifying SALAs as a legitimate and growing popu lation could have policy implications for home owner ship, health care programs and income," Marsh said. SALAs and the Love Jones cohort have been large pic arc generally not considered a family. And while income is general ly a measure of status, and dual income house holds are more easily middle class, that does not necessarily trans late into higher oer-oerson income, so Marsn looKea a little deeper and included home ownership as a measure of wealth. J One question that remains unanswered is what social sci entists call the "intergenera li u uui ait uiuiiuiiig piuu lem. Marsh, said, but some thing people need to be aware of. "SALAs might transfer their wealth to nieces and nephews, cousins or even sib lines " Marsh said. She said her future studies will seek to determine where SALAs are living and if they are living happily, and to find differences between blacks and whites and between men and women. Co-authors on the study are Philip Cohen of UNC; William Darity and Danielle Salters of Duke University; and Lynne Casper of the University of Southern California. Cohen and Darity are fellows at the CPC. 4 Over 70 papers delivering your message * 2 column by 2 inches * Advertise Statewide tor $*375 * Over One Million Circulation ?Regional Buys Available Eastem-$865. Western-SB? ' [> splay ad placement for advertisers of all sties CaUttus wu&wie torttetwk ATTENTION PARENTS! Academics Plus?, Inc. \ FREE TUTORING! ? ?atsmssK7 ? ? ? * i Students who attend the following schools and receiye free or reduced-price lunch are eligible under Title I for free tutoriitg. KONNOAK ELEMENTARY LATHAM ELEMENTARY BRUNSON ELEMENTARY Eligible parents have the opportunity to choose Academics>Plus?, Inc. to provide tutoring for their child(ren) Enrollment: January 3 - 25, 2008 Tutoring starts February 18, 2008 Please ask your school for more information. News Clips CCC seminar will focus on balancing budget Consumer Credi Counseling _ Service o Forsyth County will presen a seminar, "Getting You Budget Back on Track Afte the Holidays," at 6 p.m Monday, Jan. 14, at CCCS office, 8064 North Poin Blvd., Suite 204, Winston SalemO The seminar will . covei such topics as: "Organizin{ Your Bills: Determine Wh( You Owe and Which Bill! are Delinquent"; "Create ai Action Plan for Past-Du< Debts"; "Determine Ways tc Decrease Spending anc Increase Savings"; anc "Recognize when help ma; be needed from a credi counselor at CCCS." The seminar will alsc include the "how-to's" ol creating a plan foi Christmas, 2008 througl such methods as a holiday savings club, monthly sav ings and shopping for gift; year 'round. First Citizens Bank is sponsoring the seminar which will last an hour and i half. Seating is limited am light refreshments will bi provided. For more informa tion, or to register, call 336 837-0656 or email pam .odom@cccsforsy th .org . Conservation Trust wins grant from Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation The Conservation Trus for ' North Carolina ha received a $100,000 grar from the Z. Smith Reynold Foundation, the latest in stream of funding that the foundation has provided since the Trust's creation in 1991. The grant, approved by the foundation's board at a meeting Nov. 16, will help cover the Conservation Trust's operating expenses over the coming two years. The Conservation Trust for North Carolina is a statewide, non-profit land trust working with landown ers to protect North Carolina's most treasured lands and waters. It supports' a network of 23 local land trusts across the state, work ing with them and with pri vate landowners, public agencies and concerned citi zens to ensure that critical lands are voluntarily protect ed for clean drinking water, recreation, and working farms and forests. ? Mayor Joines, Council > Member Clark to meet with 1 West Ward residents Mayor Allen Joines and West Ward Council Member Robert Clark will hold a "Talk of the Town" meeting Thursday, Jan. 10, in , the Building B dining room of Calvary Baptist Church", 5000 Country Club Road. They'll discuss what's | 5 going on - in 5 city , govern i m e n t land > issues - impor - tant to the West Ward, includ ing sidewalks on Kirklees Road, break-ins in the Buena Vista and Country Club neighborhoods, and the miss ,l ing section of the Muddy s Creek greenway. The meet lt ing will start at 7 p.m. Clark WSSL' grad earns Bronze Star Army National Guard Master SgJ. Joey $1 Ireland has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for sup porting the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The medal is awarded to an individual who, while serving in the U.S. armed forces, has performed a hero ic act, meritorious achieve ment or distinguished service during armed conflict or ground combat while engaged against an armed enemy of the United States. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed, forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and count6r- insurgency opera tions as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq. Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also, assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and govern mental infrastructure, and preparing Iraqi ill authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sover eignty and independence as a democracy. Ireland, a field artillery senior platoon sergeant, is assigned to the lJ3th Field Artillery. Balad, Iraq. He has served in the military for 23 years . He is the son of Geneva M. Ireland of Winston Salem. The master sergeant graduated in h)84 from North Forsyth High School, Winston-Salem, and received a degree in 1988 from Winston-Salem State University. ( security forces ("hitlins PigS Ff:';t Fried Ch ' k? n -mr.tl - .Tf f ' f !i(>- 1 1 hi"' J Pork Chop , 'smother^- i l-V,ik Ch?'f . BBC: Be- -' Rib, Oxtoi , Gumbo Round* -f Bone Fisi ? Whit ir iu Moot Loot obeyed St<-< .11 ' illnrd Gio"ii. Broccoli Y'i" Bl' it > - ,? Stf-vV' ?' I (.'.Of f ried Okrn t- " j 1 'i! ! 1' I Snluci Bar And More ftloais evil i 1 be i'et'vccf cafeteria stafe an J at moderate prices: 10% discount to alt WV ij ?U y ,t? . : II l"i !'J I' t. 1< : ] h' :f P()ll( ' hro ( Hid Militor . OM.rl m Uniform 01 with I.! 1 Dinner1 ?8" HOURS |M :p itlJMkly Sunday I lam 8pn LOCATION 15?/ MIK Jr Di Winston Solom
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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