Are African American families under a great decline?

Question

and what is the cause of this

I am young African American by the way and greatly concerned about this.

African Americans historically have valued the institution of marriage and have favored the traditional two-parent family. In 1890, 80% of African American families were headed by two parents, even though many had started life in forced family separation under slavery (Billingsley, 1992).

One hundred years later the percentage of married-couple African American families had dropped to 39%. Most of the decline in two-parent families has occurred since 1980. In 1994, 57% of all African American children in the United States lived in a single-parent family headed by a woman (Saluter, 1996).

In the U.S., 68% of all births to African American women are to single mothers (U.S. Census, 2001). In Florida, 69.4% of births to African American women were to single mothers.

Like the general population, some segments of the African American population more readily accept premarital sex and out of wedlock births. Under such conditions, economic considerations seem to have a greater influence on the decision to marry (Testa & Krogh, 1995).

Current research indicates that while unemployment rates had no significant effect on the likelihood that single Black fathers ages 32-44 would eventually marry the mothers of their child(ren), young fathers ages 18-31 who were employed were 8 times more likely to marry the mothers of their child(ren) (Wilson, 1996).

Poor and unemployed families have increased significantly over the past 20 years. Because parents (usually fathers) leave to form other families, because single parents must form independant households, and because of rapid technological changes, millions of unskilled laborers have fallen into the ranks of the poor and unemployed (Billingsley, 1992).

Persistently poor families (defined as having family incomes below the poverty line during at least 8 years in a 10 year period) in the United States tend to be headed by women, and of these families, 31% are headed by African American women (Wilson, 1996).

An African American child's high probability of growing up without a father is affected by factors uniquely associated with race. Among poor minority groups, children are unquestionable hurt by the combined effects of parental unemployment, low income, institutionalization, and death at an early age.

I agree with many of Bill Cosby's points

What the hell is the cause and the solution?

Answer 1

It declined, because our culture changed and became one that is only music, dance and sports which not all women feel attractive to it. Our women DO NOT want to get marry or even trust a guy who thinks been a "thug" is the only way to make a life. Here we follow and imitate rappers, and in most cases call our women "bitches" and other insults. How are they gonna love us and trust us to have a families. My point is, WE no longer trust each other. Another point is, most of the African-American families are one parent family.

When Bill Cosby talks about real issues like this, we get offended. But we should not.
Let's still dominate the music, sports, and STILL, be like everyone else, productive, and educated. "Ghetto life, and thug life", became something to be proud of for us, which is stupid.

Answer 2

I'm a middle aged white woman, and I work in juvenile detention. Along with you, I am very concerned, although I have to admit that a lot of the same behavior does go on among whites and other non-black groups.

In my experience, there are more single parent families while the kids are very young in the black community. Many kids, their parents never married. The high school drop out rate in the city I live closest to is 50%, while in suburban towns (where, I think, parents pressure their kids to finish h.s. more) it's like 90% graduation rate. Whether you graduate or not, it's hard to get a job in your teens that will enable you to support one or more kids. The parents are too young and not mature enough to watch their kids carefully, and they get into trouble.

I think all across our society, teen/unwed pregnancy has gone from perhaps being considered too much of a disgrace in my day, to no big deal and almost a thing to brag about among many teens today. I've never heard any teen except one of my sons express the least concern about all this unmarried sex. I speak in depth with young people ages 10 to 16, mainly 14 to 16, each week at work. I'll say 90% state they are sexually active, about the same number say they smoke weed daily, and a few have had kids. Yesterday a new client, who is 15, told me his child is age one already. Most of our clients are a FEW grade levels behind in their reading and/or math. Many of them are at further risk, because their parents are also drop-outs and/or criminals.

Sadly, I have no idea what the answer is. I think maybe we have to inspire kids one kid and one family at a time, to believe in their futures, and help them make it happen. This is the effect of sin in every segment of our society. A lot of people say you shouldn't judge about people being lazy, having kids in their teens, etc., but you can just see the bad effects if you'll look around. Some of these kids can see no farther than using and selling drugs and their lives are shot at 16 :-(

Answer 3

I believe that the african american population in this country has several problems that they need to solve. There are more ablack men (and women) locked up than any other race (latinos are 2nd). Only that obviously tells us something is not right in the education and lifestyle they have been given. Also, it looks like this is not going to end. Celebrities and 'black' music emphazises all the wrong things. Killing, selling drugs, getting lots of goodlooking girls, bling bling, etc. This really annoys me because i know young children listen to this music and look up to these rappers that give such a bad influence. It is important to start educating your children at home and always pay attention what they are up to.

Answer 4

This is not exclusive of african americans or US people, this is happening around world!!
It happens in my country and in other countries. Family destruction happens because people have forgotten of God and about values. Mass media is a big influence on this, mass media, TV specially spreads the idea of marriage is out dated, adultery is the best...Let's be free or get marry anyway you can divorce later.
People don't take seriously marriage and in consequence they don't take seriously family.
The society has become a light society where it does not matter values or family, it only matters how much money you earn or how much pleasure you get. This is getting a selfish world. People forgot about God.

I think this happens not only in African American people, this is happening around world thanks to mass media, thanks to people forgot about God and thanks to people don't take seriously marriage.