Can Old Family Structures Meet New Economic Challenges
Can Old Family Structures Meet New Economic Challenges
In order for African-Americans to be structurally empowered to meet the challenges of the 21st century, one’s family must be properly set in such a way that their education, economic, and socialization combined will guide them in the direction of success, not only physically and mentally, but also spiritually.
Envision with me for a moment, a family with God as head of the household, then the father, mother, and children. The father and mother both have earned a degree from a University and have well paying jobs. The children are encouraged to stay in school so they too one day will be successful. Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit they attend church every Sunday and practice living by the laws of God and the land. The parents do not influence their children with drugs or alcohol, but rather instill morals and values for them to live a healthy life. This ideal family may be viewed as being structurally equipped with the tools to prosper mentally, physically, and spiritually in the 21st century.
On the other hand, let us take a look at a family headed by a single mother with no college education and living on welfare. She too tries to keep her children in line and train them up in the way they should go. Is this family also empowered to meet the challenges of the 21st century? Some African-American families are prepared, but on the contrary many are not.
Many African-American households lack a father or father figure in the home and have no set rules or standards to follow. Although some households have fathers they may not be good role models. They may often influence their children by drinking, smoking, using drugs, and being abusive to the mother. According to the Journal of Negro Education there are high rates of dysfunctional and pathological behavior found among black men. A recent study done by the Sentencing Project on Criminal Injustice proved that sixty-two percent of young black men are doing time in jail. Many of them have children, but this is a negative example for the child, therefore, the father cannot teach them the right path to follow.
When the mother heads the household she must go to work, cook, clean, and struggle to instill...