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Venice Guy 12/18/2013. Struggles of Young Black Single Mothers Sociology of Urban Poverty Professor Covert New York City College of Technology. Struggles of Young Single Black Mothers.
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Venice Guy12/18/2013 Struggles of Young Black Single Mothers Sociology of Urban Poverty Professor Covert New York City College of Technology
Struggles of Young Single Black Mothers • Historically, the concept of mothering in the African America communities and throughout the African Diaspora has had a broad impact, described by some as the entire way a community organizes to nurture itself and future generations. Mothering is a key of the African world view comes to the forefront in discussions of resistance to oppression in the Black community. As with many things in life, sometimes there are exceptions that leave single mothers without these resources
Struggles of Young Single Black Mothers • The struggles for young single Black mothers are wide and varied from: choice, the style of mothering, marital status, social class, financial/economic status, race, health status (physical, emotional) and spiritual.
Struggles of Young Black Single Mothers • Many women are single mothers by choice, while others are single parents due to others factors such the death of a partner, getting divorced, partner imprisoned, abandonment, abused or simply do not knowing the paternity of the child/children
Struggles of Black single mothers contd • The war on drugs contributed to many Black Male to be incarcerated, leaving young Black women to fend for themselves. Many move on with their lives and refuse to marry these men after they are released from prison. Women don’t want to marry men who cant provide for their families which is often the case post incarceration
Statistics • African Americans women of low socioeconomic status have the highest number of young single mothers • The black community's 72 percent rate eclipses that of most other groups: 17 percent of Asians, 29 percent of whites, 53 percent of Hispanics and 66 percent of Native Americans were born to unwed mothers in 2008, the most recent year for which government figures are available. The rate for the overall U.S. population was 41 percent. • Jessie Washington,Womens Health NBC NEWS, 11/7/2010
Statistics contd • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 3.5 million U.S. families are headed by single Black women.. www.forawe.com/news.php?viewStory=136
The other Young Black Mothers • Opposite of this spectrum are many young black working and successful single mothers from various socioeconomic and professional backgrounds who made the choice of being a single parent; however, they do not face the daily struggles that are evident among most mothers from the Black community who are of low socioeconomic status
Social Injustice • The experiences of young African American mothers in the United States are influenced by socially constructed discourses about race, gender class and power. Research found that whereas Black single mothers are labeled deviant by the dominant culture, White single mothers are considered “troubled” but redeemable.(INVISIBLE MOTHERS,SEXROLES VOL 49 JUL 2003)
Change of Paradigm • To change the paradigm of a group of people, its culture and history have to be considered. • In order to change the mindset and open avenues for young African American girls from becoming young single mothers with the increase odd of living a life of being poor or in poverty; waiting for the welfare system to aid during their plight, the community has to set an agenda to capture the awareness of these females from an early age.
Educational opportunities for children • By doing this we would start with head start (an early childhood education established in 1965 to promote educational opportunities). • Evaluation data have identified a positive relationship between early childhood program enrollment school attendance motivation and high school graduation, earning a college degree, becoming gainfully employed, home and business ownership and becoming entrepreneurs (Leon-Guerrero p.g
Educational Opportunities for Single Mothers • One should not forget that a nations children is its future, therefore offering motivation by assisting with ways of obtaining jobs and means to improve their educational status is of importance. Some e.g are as follow: schools that provide quality education and college readiness, local area add campaign promoting self worth and esteem, safer sex education in schools and also add campaign with the goal of including the delay of having children until some stability is in place such as maturity, getting a college degree or other vocational readiness, and becoming financially stable. Professionals personnel such as guidance councilors community centers (a place for outreach support) community groups, churches, role models. All of which will help to identify job opportunities, long and short term goals.
Role Models (Examples of progress) • Role models may be people/person organizations or business module. A successful business module I would like to refer is that of “Little Africa” founded in Tulsa Oklahoma during the late 1800’s. These Black owned business community was such a success during its time, it coined the name “Black Wall Street”. • This business was affluent that the money made was turned over no less than 36 times before changing to other hands outside that community.
Role Model contd • Born Rhonda Harris, Iyanla changed 1983; IyanlaVanzant had a troubled childhood she found herself pregnant by age 16, and had three children by 21. Vanzant, with her three children in tow, went on welfare. She was on welfare for eight years before being struck by the unfulfilled purpose in her life. She enrolled in Medgar Evers College. Three-and-a-half years later she left welfare forever after graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in public administration and became gainfully employed. Later obtained a Masters degreesIyanla a prominent public speaker and The Host of “Iyanla Fix My Life” a popular show on OWN • An example of a Black single mother who struggled and lift herself from welfare and no education to success.
Summary • These are two examples showing how young Black women through hard work and determination can rehabilitate themselves and become productive citizens. As a reminder, our young women should never let society define who they are and will become.
