The State Of Black Children And Families: Black Perspectives on What Black Children Face & What the Future Holds

1. HART RESEARCH A S S O C I A T E S The State Of Black Children And Families: Black Perspectives on What Black Children Face & What the Future Holds Key findings from qualitative and quantitative researchamong adults, caregivers, children, national and community leadersConducted November – December 2010for

2. Methodology • Nationwide survey among 801 Black adults, including 475 caregivers, conducted November 10 – 23, 2010 • Nationwide survey among 403 Black children ages 11 to 17, conducted November 10 – December 2, 2010 • Nine focus group discussions • Four focus groups in Washington, DC, November 29 – 30, 2010 • Middle-income parents and caregivers • Low-income parents and caregivers • Children ages 11 to 14 • Children ages 15 to 17 • Three focus groups in Memphis, TN, December 4, 2010 • Parents and caregivers • Children ages 11 to 14 • Children ages 15 to 17 • Two telephone focus groups among national Black leaders and activists

3. Very good times Okay times Tough times Really bad times Easier todayHarder todayAbout the same, depends, not sure Adults & Caregivers See Tough Times For Black Children How are things going in the country these days for Black children? Is it easier or harder to be a Black child today, compared with how things were for parents’ generation? 72% 69% 25% 24% All Adults Caregivers All Adults Caregivers

4. Very few Just some Most Nearly all Things have improved for: Most Adults And Caregivers See Improvements For Just A Minority Of Black Children Compared to 15 years ago, have things improved for Black children? Key Subgroups 69% 66% All/Most 34%29% 29%25% 26%36%27% 27%33%24% 29%31%24%23% Just Some/Very Few 59%67% 67%72% 67%60%71% 69%65%70% 67%64%70%69% Men age 18 to 49Men age 50/over Women age 18 to 49Women age 50/over High school/less educSome collegeCollege graduates Under $20K income$20K to $50K incomeOver $50K income NortheastSouthMidwestWest 29% 29% All Adults Caregivers

5. Things have improved Things have stayed the same Things have gotten worse Most Think Conditions Have Stayed The Same Or Worsened For Both Middle- And Low-Income Black Children Compared to 15 years ago, what is the situation for THESE Black children? Middle-Class Children Poor/Low-Income Children All Adults Caregivers All Adults Caregivers

6. Easier 61%64% 67%57% 60%66% Harder 34%34% 30%39% 37%31% BoysGirls Age 11-14Age 15-17 $30K/lessOver $30K Youthful Optimism Shows In Expectations For Young People’s Future As Adults Thinking 15 to 20 years ahead, when today’s Black youth/you are adults, do you think things will be easier or harder than for Black adults today? Children All Adults Thingswill be easier Thingswill be harder Thingswill be easier Things will be harder About same/depends/not sure About same/depends/not sure

7. High Imprisonment Rates, Unemployment Cited As Most Serious Problems All Adults Saying Each is a VERY Serious Problem in their Community Large number of Black boys & men in prison Unemployment Drugs Parents not taking respon-sibility for their children Teenage pregnancy Violence Loss of moral and religious values Presence of guns Poorly performing schools Disrespect or mistreatment of Black women and girls Child abuse Racial and ethnic tension

8. Almost all/most About half Less than half/very few Adults & Caregivers Think Racial Injustices Remain Likely For Many Black Youth Proportion of Black children who will experience each of the following: Racial profiling by police/other law enforcement All adults Caregivers Denial of important opportunities because of racial prejudice All adults Caregivers Serve time in jail All adults Caregivers 50%

9. Drugs, Dropping Out, Serving Time, Top The List Of Serious Problems For Children % CHILDREN saying each is a VERY serious problem for the Black children they know Drugs Dropping out of school Ending up in prison Involvement with gangs Neighborhood violence, including drug violence Too many youths having guns Involvement with people who are bad influence Living in dangerous neighborhood Seven in 10 children say violence is the number-one or a very important problem for young Black people today.

10. Additional Problems Black Young People Face % CHILDREN saying each is a VERY serious problem for the Black children they know Violence in school Not having safe/clean places to play, hang out Racial profiling by police, law enforcement Treated unfairly because of race Difficult family life Dating violence Not enough to do outside of school

11. Additional Problems Raised In Focus Groups • Economic Isolation, Lack of Jobs • Cultural Isolation • Fractured Black Communities and Families • Lack of moral and religious values • Lack of community standards • Teen pregnancy • Absent fathers • Splintering Larger Black Community

12. Improving Conditions For Black Children Starts At Home Which group is letting Black children down the most? Which group could do the most to make a positive difference on the problems of Black youth? Parents Government Schools Local Black community leaders/groups Churches Business leaders National Black leaders Grandparents Parents Grandparents Churches Local Black community leaders/groups Schools Government National Black leaders Business leaders

13. Staying Engaged/Spending Time With Child Most Important Things Adults Can Do What are the best things a parent or individual Black adult can do to help a Black child, make a positive difference? AllAdults 31% 17% 14% 12% 11% 7% 7% Care-givers 35% 17% 13% 12% 12% 10% 7% Child-ren 25% 15% 13% 12% 11% 10% 8% 7% Talk to them, be involved, spend time, communicate Instill good morals, values, teach right from wrong Love/encourage, let them know you care/are there Be a good role model, walk the talk Keep them in school, ensure they get good education Help, assist, support Take the time to listen,understand Talk to them, be involved, spend time, communicate Help, assist, support Take the time to listen,understand Teach right from wrong, how to be a good person Be a good role model Love/encourage, let them know you care/are there Help with homework, be involved in education Pay attention to what they do

14. Getting From Here To Where We Need To Be • Structural/Institutional Changes • Improving public schools so they are safe places that prepare our children for the future • Criminal justice reforms • Economic development and job creation in Black communities • Community Challenges • Healing Black families (connect Black fathers to their families and children, address teen pregnancy) • Reconnecting the Black community • Addressing the impact of multiple generations of economic and social isolation for some communities • Building A Movement • Connecting Black leaders, academics, and activists to the work on the ground • Developing a comprehensive strategy (The Black Marshall Plan) • Building support and mobilizing Black Americans