Dating in black culture used to start with meeting the girl, maybe in school or at the library. If you're older maybe you would meet someone at work or the grocery store. After that first meeting you would exchange phone numbers, talk on the phone a few times and set up that first date. You might go to the movies or a nice restaurant and you get to know the person you are dating. My how things have changed!

Today first contacts are not happening in grocery stores but in chatrooms. Talking on the phone is replaced by text messages and emails. First dates and meetings are happening months later after spending lots of time getting to know each other often from great distances and also through the virtual world of the internet. Welcome to dating in the black culture, the 21st century edition.

Every day more and more people are turning to the internet for their source of information but it is now becoming their source for romance and relationships as well. If you want to find that exotic black man who lives in Africa and is a world traveler, you can do it. If you want to find a southern bell, who is looking for a strong black man you can do it. The wonderful thing is you can do this all without ever leaving the comfort of your own home.

The most significant change in dating in the black culture is the number of people who are turning to online dating sites and social media platforms to meet the people of their dreams. Studies show that in 2000 there were approximately 360 million people using the internet. Today there are close to 1.6 billion internet users worldwide and close to 500 million of them are using social media sites and online dating sites to meet people.

That good black man or woman is just as likely to be hanging out on a black dating site as he is to be at the bank.

The black dating sites now give you the opportunity to approach those people who you may not have had previous access to. Executives, business owners, good hard working people are at your access all just a few strokes of your computer away. You get to approach people in a safe environment with no real fear of rejection. You also get to connect with like minded people so it is the ultimate weeding out process. No pressure, no expectations just the opportunity to meet literally millions of different people from all around the world.

We have progressed from face to face meetings to webinars. Instead of flying all over the world to meet a client we can set up video conferences to close same deal. Technology has changed our lives. The internet has affected the way we work, live, shop, and every aspect of life. It has affected everything we do and dating in the black culture has not escaped its grasp. Studies will have to determine if dating this way is better or worse but it sure does make it a whole lot easier to meet people.