Out of wedlock births in the black community: When is enough, enough? (469 hits)

In 2007, 4.3 million babies were born in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 1.7 million babies were born out of wedlock. In addition, statistics showed that 28 percent of Caucasian women gave birth out of wedlock, 51 percent of Latinas gave birth out of wedlock, and 72 percent of African American women gave birth out of wedlock. Why is the percentage of babies born out of wedlock highest in the African American community? The answer to this question lies somewhere in-between the slavery era and the current era. Back in the 1800s, African Americans believed more in two parent households, for the percentage of births out of wedlock was 20 percent. Even during the civil rights movement, the percentage of births out of wedlock was only 23 percent. Segregation, despite the pain and suffering endured by African Americans, influenced the way black families ran their households. For instance, African Americans were forced to be self sufficient by having their own business, restaurants, and neighborhoods. Caucasians would not allow themselves to be associated with African Americans; therefore, they treated black people like they didn’t count. We, as African Americans, should find a way to decrease the number of babies born out of wedlock in our community. In order to curve the percentage of child births out of wedlock in the black community, there are two drastic changes that need to take place; first, we need to denounce the term “baby daddy” in our community and replace it with the term “husband”; second, we need our black men to be a father to their children, for this will spark the change needed for prosperity.
First of all, our community has to realize that the term “baby daddy” is not something to be proud of. Television shows, like the Maury Povich Show, are prime examples of how our community exploits the term “baby daddy.” For example, the Maury Povich Show has aired numerous episodes exploiting African American men and women, by giving them the opportunity to settle paternity cases on air, while the rest of the world views it as entertainment. In the late 90s, B-Rock, a rap artist, released the hit single titled “My Baby Daddy.” Furthermore, the song was accompanied with a music video that degraded our black men and women by praising the term “baby daddy.” Unfortunately, the song became the anthem for our black community. Although the world of entertainment has made the term acceptable in our community through songs, music videos, and television, it is up to us, the parents, to decide when enough is enough. We can no longer expose our black community to such ignorance. In addition to our black youth being influenced by entertainment, the adults are affected, as well. During the civil rights movement, the term “baby daddy” wasn’t being used at all; moreover, at the time, the vast majority of our black community raised their children in two parent households in holy matrimony. As a result, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock by African American women was only 23 percent. Somehow, during the course of time, the value of having both parents present in the household faded away. In today’s society, African Americans, as a whole, have forgotten the importance of getting married before bringing newborn babies into the world. Our African American women play an important role in decreasing out of wedlock births; black women can decrease the percentage by getting married before they decide to have children. Our black women should set new standards for our black men to stand by, for black men will have more respect for women whom has good morals. So that our race doesn’t continue to produce the highest percentage of babies born out of wedlock, African Americans have to denounce the term “baby daddy” and replace the term with “husband.” By doing so, we will stop the cycle that has been present for the last couple of decades.
Second, in order to decrease the number of babies born out of wedlock in the black community, African American men need to be a father to their children. Due to the fact that black men populate a good number of the prisons throughout the United States, the majority of single black women are forced to raise their kids alone. As a result, young African American women grow up looking for someone to fill the void in their life that their father couldn’t fill; the void is often filled by having a baby with their lover, without even considering marriage. In addition, young African American men are affected, as well. Without the father present in the household, young black men develop bitterness towards their father; however, our young black men tend to follow the same steps that their father did. It is time to put an end to what is known as a generation of curse. Black men, we are the leaders within our community. Our children need us present in the household to help mold them into productive citizens, so that they can be a benefit to society. Young black females need the special love and attention that only a father can provide them to fully satisfy them; young black males need their father to teach them how to be a responsible man. It is important for all African American fathers to maintain legit jobs to support our households. Our women and children depend on us to provide them with everything they need. In order for us to be able to support our families, we have to stay out of jail and start investing in our future by furthering our education, maintaining jobs, and being active in a two parent household. Let’s make a difference for our children.
Now, I know that everybody may not agree that babies born out of wedlock within the black community is a problem that needs to be rectified; however, I felt the need to address the issue simply because I know what the affects are on our community. I am deeply concerned with how America views our black community. Furthermore, I am fully aware that marriage isn’t for everyone, but African American people have come way too far to start back tracking. We need more married couples in our black community. In today’s society, our freedom as African American people should be used to uplift one another; for we have the opportunity to show the world that we too are family oriented. This year, the United States of America made history by inaugurating its first African American president into the White House. Our president, Barack Obama, has set a new standard for our black community. President Barack Obama is a devoted husband and father to his wife and kids. In addition, during the early 90s, television shows, like the Cosby Show, Family Matters, and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, represented our black community suitably; but we need more television shows, like those I’ve mentioned, to set good examples of how our African American families should raise our children. Nowadays, Tyler Perry’s the House of Pain show is one of few African American television shows that shed light on our black community.
During the civil rights movement, our ancestors had to endure countless acts of segregation; however, they fought for our rights, so that we could be apart of the American culture; so now is the time for us to show our gratitude. First, we must denounce the term “baby daddy” and we must replace it with the term “husband.” Second, our African American men need to have an active role in our children’s life. In addition, we, as African Americans, should raise our kids in two parent households in holy matrimony. The increase in out of wedlock births has already risen to more than 70 percent in the black community. When is enough, enough?
References
Raspberry, W. (2005, July).Why our black families are failing. The Washington Post, p.A19. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...
Reid, M. (2006, April). First comes baby, then comes marriage? Retrieved April 12, 2009, from http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0424/p09s02-...
Revitz, J. (2009, April). Out of wedlock births hit record high. Busy moms staying afloat. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/0... Posted By: Joshua Sewell
Sunday, August 2nd 2009 at 11:01PM
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