Patti Stanger has marketed herself as a highly successful third-generation matchmaker, holding her own on Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker” for three seasons. Stanger runs the Millionaire Matchmaking Club, which helps mostly single male millionaires find love. Stanger admits that she doesn’t sell marriage; she sells love.
Although Stanger claims to have a high success rate, the way she measures success is questionable.
It’s no surprise that marriage is not the ultimate goal for her clients when she has openly rejected the idea of marriage for quite some time for herself. If marriage is not the ultimate goal for her dating clients, then what is the point? If these clients were interested in being lifetime daters, then why would they need to pay her $50,000 for assistance in finding that special someone to love?
Stanger, single and 48, has given in to the pressure and on a recent episode announcing that she’s engaged and planning her wedding. Is this a PR move? It’s unlikely that she’s fully receptive to marriage after publicly expressing that she isn’t ready to settle down and that she likes the independence that comes with being single.
Nevertheless, Stanger commands over 30,000 viewers per episode and is critical of clients. Although, the show has done well in ratings, her matchmaking skills are ineffective in the black community.
Promoting long-term or casual dating as opposed to marriage is a destructive ideology for African American families. Considering that 42 percent of African American women have never been married, we can’t afford to accept the philosophy that it’s OK to remain single “if this is what works best for you.” Furthermore, the black community faces a frightening statistic: 66 percent of black children are born to single mothers in poverty.
There have only been a few of African American clients on the show, which is a good thing. Stanger’s flawed system only means that the world is ready for the new Black Millionaire Matchmaker©. Considering the rapidly declining number of African Americans who are choosing to marry, a black millionaire matchmaker could be a good idea. The goal would be to decrease the single rate statistic, educate, empower and transform the mind-set of African American clients and increase the compatibility that will ultimately lead to a long-term marriage. The participants would be prepped and their minds transformed for a healthy love experience, and the process would take one month depending on their receptivity to my advice and willingness to make key changes in mind-set.
–shay williams
Visit www.lovein30days.com and join us for D.I.V.A University so that you gain an advantage in the competitive world of dating.
©Shay Williams aka ©Shay Your Date Diva is a speaker and author of DIVA Don’t Get Played! and Mommy DIVA Don’t Get Played! both dating guides for catching the man of your dreams in 30 days.
