Submitted by Charles Knighton
I had hoped that the advent of March would have put an end to the tedious recitation of the numerous accomplishments of Black people that have brought change to our lives. Alas, Corey Worrell “In the black” (Nation March 03rd) has now disabused me of that notion.
Once again, Blacks have spent a few weeks looking back to great men and women of the past, while ignoring the calamity in their midst, the destruction of the Black family. Fifty years ago the great majority of Black families had two parents. Today, less than 40% do and the majority of Black children are growing up with struggling single mothers. The result: an ongoing epidemic of school dropouts, crime, child abuse, and relentless poverty.
This should be no surprise. Children need fathers. And it’s well established that children from broken homes are far less likely to succeed in life. The boys turn to crime and drugs and end up in prison. The girls turn to sex and wind up pregnant, perpetuating the cycle of misery.
How has society responded? By making teen pregnancy easier with cash assistance, medical coverage, and foster care. Meanwhile, good -for-nothing fathers hop from one baby mama to the next without any consequences. We can blame society or racism if we like for these messed up children. But an intergenerational cycle of dysfunction has been unfolding before our eyes, and only Blacks can stop it.
While it was originally hoped Black History Month would foster a sense of self esteem in Black children and adults alike, it seems to now serve more like the child’s finger which is held in front of his eye while he exclaims “Look! My finger can hide the sun!”.
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