Dear Stickywicket,
Why are so many African-American children born to single black women? How do members of the black community feel about this?
Sincerely,
~Responsible Father in Oregon
Dear Mr. Responsible,
Be assured, you are not the only responsible father out there. However, the statistics of African-American children born without fathers in the home compared the other races in the United States, has been a topic of debate of late.
During a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, comedian Bill Cosby delivered a speech about the growing number of African-American children born into fatherless families. The remarks didn’t garner laughter, however. The comedian’s comments, sparked debate amongst the African-American community and the nation.
“The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal,” Cosby said in his speech. “These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids – $500 for sneakers, for what? And won’t spend $200 for ‘Hooked on Phonics.”
Cosby’s comments were published in the Washington Post and the debate began.
While many argued Cosby’s remarks were counterproductive and presented in a demeaning manner, similar messages were being spread throughout the African-American community. While he doesn’t mimic Cosby’s delivery, Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson, an African-American pastor who founded the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), shares his sentiments in Cosby’s call for African-American fathers to become more involved.
Rev. Lee has been quoted as saying, “We must solve it in our own community. Seventy percent of black children born out of wedlock is unacceptable.”
Then there are the comments made by President Barack Obama at a Father’s Day address during the election campaign at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago.
“More than half of all black children live in single-parent households,” Obama said. “A number that has doubled – doubled – since we were children.”
According to Census data from 1960, 22 percent of black children were born into single-parent households. By 2006, it was 56 percent, and 91.4 percent of single parents of black children were women. Among other races in 2006, the stats showed that approximately 28 percent of children were born into single-parent households.
Why such a large number of fatherless homes?
The reasons are extraordinarily complex. There are deeply seated economic, political, sociological, cultural and psychological factors contributing to this phenomenon. There is no consensus among scholars and researchers as to how this trend began or why it persists. But everyone agrees it’s a serious problem.
“Children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime,” Obama said in that same Father’s day address. “(They are) nine times more likely to drop out of school and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.”
However, stats can be deceiving because while the number of African-American children born into fatherless homes appears alarming, it should not lead one to assume all of these fathers are irresponsible.
Not getting married doesn’t mean these men are absent and don’t financially support their children. A man doesn’t have to get married to show his kid love. He doesn’t have to have a ring to take his kid to the park or teach him how to ride a bike. And he doesn’t need a certificate to care about his child or the child’s mother.