Black Families, Black Men, Black Children: Breaking The Cycles Of Destruction

The economic downturn that has communities all across America in its grip seems to have no immediate end in sight because of forces here at home and those playing out on the global stage. But as we focus on issues at the national level, the plight of the most vulnerable, and those least prepared to weather sustained unemployment and all the negative conditions that go along with it, too often slips from view.

While many families in minorities and ethnic groups are suffering, and some much worst than others, few are suffering more than the black family. One has only to look at the current jobless rates. While the current unemployment rate is 9 percent for the nation, it is nearly 17 percent for blacks. Unemployment among teens overall is 20 percent. For black teens, it is more than 46 percent. But this trend is not just recent it has a long-standing history.

Sociologists proclaim that many forces bombard the family unit in contemporary society. Many also readily acknowledge that whatever plagues society generally, whether joblessness or other economic problems, educational problems, divorce, single parenting, poor housing, etc., the impact on black families — black men, black children — is much more severe, and the ramifications more far-reaching and long-lasting.

In many ways, the black family unit still suffers from the ravages of history. There are many strong black families, headed by one or both parents. There are many others reeling from some indelible scars which originated with the institution of slavery — an institution that did everything in its power to rape and destroy the family unit, separating mother and father, mother and child. And even though it has been well over a hundred years since that wretched institution supposedly died, the many negative effects are still seen today.

The black family has been imperiled by one destructive force after the other. And the impact can be seen throughout communities across the country. You need only to review a few grim statistics: The vicious cycle of black on black crime, higher rates of unemployment during economic prosperity, poor health and limited or no access to the best healthcare available, or no healthcare at all. By comparison, the black family still, disproportionately, lives in poor housing and blighted neighborhoods. And the feelings of helplessness, complacency, apathy and general lethargy, is much too high.

The current status of black men is even more alarming. In addition to often being jobless, absentee fathers, and undereducated, many find themselves incarcerated rather than in schools — sentenced to a life of hopelessness, non-productivity, and going through the revolving door of incarceration..

Perhaps, the greatest and long-lasting impact of these destructive forces is on the children. They are the ones who find it difficult to have vision, to see beyond their immediate living environment. They are the ones who are more vulnerable, who are likely to succumb to drugs and a life of crime to escape their deprived and disheartening condition. They are the children having children, in part out of ignorance and a lack of direction, in part out of hope and the need to feel important to someone, to show love, to receive love. The result is double jeopardy, double loss. A young girl may never reach her potential; and the child she brings into the world starts out at a disadvantage. For a family unit that is already frail and weak, this can only make it weaker, more vulnerable.

Where do the answers lie? How do we stop the destructive forces? First, we must refuse to believe they are beyond our control. We must commit ourselves to do whatever we can to strengthen the family unit. The answers are neither simple nor easy. Nor can they be achieved overnight.

We must tackle, and we are, some very tough problems, like the perpetual dependency on welfare. Welfare is a complicated subject, with complex causes. But relying on welfare breeds more dependency. Welfare is like a pain reliever, temporary and somewhat comforting, but it offers no ultimate cure for what is causing the problem. It is not a job where you can earn enough wages to improve your living conditions. Long term, it often does more harm than good.

As we continue to work for better housing, better education, equal access to jobs and other economic opportunities, we should invest a substantial amount of time with our young people. We must help them overcome many hurdles and misconceptions that can destroy their future — even before they have any idea of what that future can be.

Some basics we need to convey: For starters, to our young men, we must tell them that there is nothing to be proud of or boast about when they father children that they can not take care of. Our boys need to be told plainly that it does not make them men. And our girls need to be told that becoming pregnant is not proof or a guarantee of love from the father who was not ready to be one, or the child who could easily grow to be resentful for bringing them into the world under such wretched and stigmatized conditions — conditions which neither parent is prepared to change.

We must continue to emphasize the absolute need to get an education. Without an education in today's society, the odds of improving your living conditions are firmly stacked against you. We cannot continue to let our children indulge in the rap, and "crap" on the radio and ignore the lessons and messages in the classroom.

To achieve appreciation for the value of a strong family unit, and address those needs to build and preserve it, often like any positive outcome, must be taught, learned, and practiced.

While we cannot undo the past conditions that left a path of destruction and feelings of hopelessness, we CAN stop them and continue to build a stronger family unit — for future generations. Let us keep our eyes on the real prize: Strengthening our families for the sake of our children.