Soulmates: A Video Documentary by Andrea Wiley

And Andrea Wiley articulates that very sentiment in Soulmates by providing a relatively well-balanced perspective on the subject of singleness and black, Christian women.

Soulmates covers many bases. Wiley gives us the never-married perspective, the divorced perspective, the widowed perspective, the male perspective, the biblical perspective, and my favorite – the straight-up, no-chaser perspective of several participants, including Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Los Angeles’ Faithful Central Bible Church.

Sonia, one of my younger, married cousins, noted that Soulmates was lacking the “average” woman’s perspective, and she is right. Every last woman interviewed by Wiley is gorgeous, accomplished, and incredibly independent, which beckoned us to wonder what exactly Wiley’s point was. Was she intimating that times must be hard if this group was husbandless? Or, was she innocently suggesting that they are representative of the body of single, saved and black women who desire to be married?

Every rock was overturned in pursuit of an answer to this epidemic or what I believe to be a pandemic. The down low was discussed and explored, but thankfully, not given more credence than is due. The subjects of emotional baggage, desperation and even interracial relationships were explored.

Essentially, the obvious was stated, it is a buyers’ market: Black women disproportionately outnumber black men in the United States. Not only can a black man have his pick of black women, but he can date across racial boundaries AND maybe even decide the terms of a relationship.

Please don’t watch Soulmates for a solution, because you won’t find one. There is no magic formula for finding a mate or becoming mate worthy – Thank you, Jesus! However, Soulmates is long on encouragement and wisdom, especially wisdom that points directly to the Lord.

Noteworthy was Paula Bond’s story of marrying for the first time after 40. If anyone remembers statuesque, beautiful Paula from B.E.T., then her testimony and presence will be a treat.