In The Latest News of “Zatima” Star Devale Ellis
“Zatima” star Devale Ellis has been on the fast track with his acting career, from Netflix films to his show on BET. He is also a devoted family man with his wife Khadeen and their three boys.
He made a stop by “Sway in the Morning” to discuss how he wants his children to have an appreciation for Black women.
“I’m not racist. Yeah. But I do tell my sons, like, you have to love black women, bro. We come from black women,” Ellis said.
He added,
“If you don’t love black women, you don’t love yourself…I don’t give a fuck. That ain’t even a debate. I want my sons to marry black women.”
When it comes to love, Black men stand at a cultural crossroads. Whether choosing to date within their race or form bonds beyond it, their decisions reflect identity, history, and hope.
According to Pew Research, only 15% of married Black men have non-Black spouses, while the majority—85%—choose Black women as life partners. Yet the rise of interracial relationships among Black men is notable: in 2015, 25% of newlywed Black men married outside of their race, compared to just 12% of Black women.
For many Black men, dating within the race is an act of preservation.
“There’s a level of understanding I don’t have to explain to a Black woman,” says Marcus, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Atlanta. “She just gets the weight I carry—professionally, emotionally, historically.”
Others, like Devin, a creative director based in Los Angeles, believe that love transcends identity:
“I dated a Latina woman for five years. The culture was different, sure, but what mattered most was how we treated each other. Respect doesn’t have a skin tone.”
Still, dating outside the race can invite criticism. Some in the Black community view it as abandonment—especially when Black women, who often face unique systemic barriers, are left out of love’s equation.
“It’s not that I’m anti-interracial,” says Terrance, a 28-year-old teacher, “but I want to build with someone who reflects my roots. That’s personal, not political.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Dating within the race can feel like affirmation; dating outside can be expansion. What’s constant is the emotional complexity and cultural weight Black men carry in their romantic choices.
Whether protecting legacy or pursuing new possibilities, Black men’s love lives tell a deeper story—one of evolving identity, loyalty, and the freedom to choose what love looks like.
