14 Most Inspiring Black Couples (2012 Edition)

1. LAMAR & RONNIE TYLER

[ATLANTA, GA]

When Lamar & Ronnie Tyler started their blog back in 2007 they had no idea it would become the largest black family and parenting blog online. Their goal was a lot simpler, to create a Positive Image of Black Marriage. Not only are the Tylers parents of four active youngsters, they also run a successful media company. Tyler New Media produces best selling documentaries such as: Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me, Men Ain’t Boys and due out this summer Still Standing (see trailer below).

With over 100k Facebook fans and thousands of website visitors each month, we are inspired by Lamar & Ronnie everyday.

Black And Married With Kids Website | Facebook | Twitter

4. JOHN & MAGGIE ANDERSON

[CHICAGO, IL]

John & Maggie Anderson are the couple responsible for starting the Empowerment Experiment where they decided to only patronize black business for one year. The goal was to increase economic empowerment within the black community. Their experiment turned out to be a success and they’ve been featured in several magazine articles. They have also been the center of debate. Maggie wrote the book “Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy” which chronicled their yearlong journey and carried a blog on BlackEnterprise.com. John is the CEO of In Sight Financial Management.

Empowerment Experiment Website

5. CRAIG AND TANYA WATKINS

[DALLAS, TX]

Craig Watkins was elected in November, 2006 as the District Attorney of Dallas County, becoming the first African American DA in Texas.  During this time in office he has created the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) which has reviewed 300 convictions and used DNA evidence to free 25 wrongfully imprisoned individuals.   His wife Tanya is a successful Dallas attorney the principle owner of the Watkins Law Firm. DA Watkins and wife Tanya have three children — Chad, Cale and Taryn.

Craig’s Website | Craig on Twitter | Craig on Facebook

6. DENNIS ARCHER & TRUDY DUNCOMBE ARCHER

[DETROIT, MI]

Dennis and Trudy Archer are more than just a dynamo power couple, they are part of history. Dennis Archer served as the Mayor of Detroit from 1994 to 2001. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law in 1970, has served on the Michigan Supreme Court and is the first person of color to be elected President of the American Bar Association in 2003.  Trudy DunCombe Archer served as a judge on Michigan 36^th District Court for 17 years and is now retired. She currently serves as the Director Emeritus for the Detroit Institute of Arts. Both have had illustrious careers and have the respect of all those who know them. They have two sons and two grandchildren and remain active in their community.

7. RUDY AND JUANITA RASMUS

[HOUSTON, TX]

Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus have led St. John’s United Methodist Church for the past 20 years.  In that span of time they have transformed a church that had 9 original members into a congregation of over 9,000. A third of which were at one time homeless.  At any of their three Sunday services as well as their Saturday service you will see people from all walks of life sharing the same pew.   The Rasmus’s have been married for 24 years and are the parents of two daughters.

St. John’s Website | Pstr Rudy on Facebook | Pstr Rudy on Twitter

8. STEVEN & SONYA HORSFORD

[LAS VEGAS, NV]

Steven and Sonya Horsford are an impressive power couple. Steven was elected to the Nevada State Senate in 2004 and served as the Democratic State Senate Majority leader until 2011. His wife, Dr. Sonya Horsford, is the Founder and Director of the Las Vegas Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program. Respectively, they both have fought for education for their community.  Sen. Horsford has supported clean energy initiatives and created jobs in his state which is a major accomplishment itself.  He has overcome adversity in his life and rose to a position where could affect change in the lives of others.  Dr. Sonya Horsford is a senior resident scholar of education with the Lincy Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where her time is spent engaged in a study regarding educational inequality in Las Vegas. They reside in Las Vegas with their three beautiful children.

Steven’s Website | Steven on Facebook | Steven on Twitter

Sonya’s Website | Sonya on Facebook | Sonya on Twitter

9.  SALIM AKIL & MARA BROCK AKIL

[LOS ANGELES, CA]

In 2000 Salim and Mara founded Akil Productions a company focused on developing new and exciting projects for cable and network television.  They are the powerhouse couple behind such TV hits as Girlfriends as The Game and the widely received hit movie Jumping the Broom.  The Akils have often been credited with ‘keep black TV alive’.  Having worked with shot callers like Kelsey Grammar and the like, we can be assured that this duo has the Midas Touch.

Akil Productions Website | Facebook | Twitter

10.  KENDRICK & LESLIE MEEK

[MIAMI, FL]

Kendrick Meek has served in the Florida House of Representatives and State Senate from 1995 until 2010. After his loss to Marco Rubio in 2010, he remains an important figure in both politics and business. Meek started a consulting firm called KBM Solutions that focuses on disaster recovery, humanitarian assistance and emergency medical relief. Most recently he was appointed an Ambassador to the U.S. Dept. of State by President Obama. His wife, Leslie Meeks is an influential force in her own right. She graduated from Fisk University with a B.A. in Political Science and received her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University. She is now an administrative law judge in Washington, D.C. and also serves as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses organization. Kendrick and Leslie reside in Miami, FL and have two children together.

Kendrick’s Website | Kendrick on Facebook | Kendrick on Twitter

11.  JAMES PERRY & MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY

[NEW ORLEANS, LA]

James Perry has been the executive director at the Greater New Orleans Fair Action Housing Center during some of the cities toughest times including during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  In addition, he is also very politically active. Melissa Harris-Perry is a Political Science professor at Tulane University and an MSNBC Contributor.

James’ Website | James on Facebook | James on Twitter

Melissa’s Website | Melissa on Facebook | Melissa on Twitter

12. BAZAAR ROYALE & BEVERLY BOND

[NEW YORK, NY]

Take a sizzling hot female DJ turned Model turned Social Activist and put her with the hottest black female celebrities and key influencers and what to you get?  BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Beveryl Bond is the musical genius and well connected brain behind Black Girls Rock Inc., a non-profit youth empowerment and mentoring organization established to promote the arts for young women of color. Bond’s hubby Bazaar Royal is no slouch himself having founded the Ghetto Metal Movement, a category of music representing of fusion of musical cultures; a collaboration of metal, rock, hip-hop, soul, blues, spoken word and reggae.

Bazaar’s Website | Bazaar on Facebook | Bazaar on Twitter

Beverly on Facebook | Beverly on Twitter

BGRI Website | BGRI Facebook | BGRI on Twitter

13.  MICHAEL & LISA NUTTER

[PHILADELPHIA, PA]

As the current Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter is known to be a straight talking politician, a ‘unicorn’ in his arena. His most famous statement of candor came after a rash of flash mobs struck the city, “Don’t act like idiots and a_holes…”.  Our sentiments EXACTLY Mr. Mayor!  Philly’s First Lady Lisa Johnson Nutter an avid community activist and President of Philadelphia Academies, Inc., a non-profit youth development organization that works in Philadelphia’s public high schools to provide career-based learning experiences that motivate young people to stay engaged in school and that create supportive networks for them in the real world.

Michael’s Website | Michael on Facebook | Michael on Twitter

PAI Website | PAI on Facebook

14.  ERIC HOLDER & SHARON MALONE

[WASHINGTON, DC]

Eric Holder is the  82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama. Sharon Malone is a frequent key note speaker and supporter of many women’s organizations and recently appeared in the PBS documentary “Slavery by Another Name.”

Slavery by Another Name Website