Black Fathers Matter | 5 Minute Video

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Which poses a bigger threat to black communities: Racism? Or the absence of fathers? Drawing on a sea of official data and his own upbringing, talk-show host Larry Elder shows just how important black fathers are in turning boys into responsible and happy men--and how their absence has had a tragic impact on millions of black Americans.

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Script:

Years ago, I interviewed Kweisi Mfume, then the president of the NAACP. “As between the presence of white racism and the absence of black fathers,” I asked, “Which poses the bigger threat to the black community?” Without missing a beat, he said, “The absence of black fathers.”

It was President Barack Obama who said, "We all know the statistics. That children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of school and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.”

The Journal of Research on Adolescence confirms that even after controlling for varying levels of household income, kids in father-absent homes are more likely to end up in jail. And kids who never had a father in the house are the most likely to wind up behind bars.

In 1960, 5 percent of America's children entered the world without a mother and father married to each other. By 1980 it was 18 percent, by 2000 it had risen to 33 percent, and fifteen years later, the number reached 41 percent.

For blacks, even during slavery when marriage for slaves was illegal, black children were more likely than today to be raised by both their mother and father. Economist Walter Williams has written that, according to census data, from 1890 to 1940, a black child was more likely to grow up with married parents than a white child.

For blacks, out-of-wedlock births have gone from 25 percent in 1965 to 73 percent in 2015. For whites, from less than 5 percent to over 25 percent. And for Hispanics, out-of-wedlock births have risen to 53 percent.

What happened to fathers?

The answer is found in a basic law of economics: If you subsidize undesirable behavior you will get more undesirable behavior. In 1949, the nation’s poverty rate was 34 percent. By 1965, it was cut in half, to 17 percent -- all before President Lyndon Johnson’s so-called War on Poverty. But after that war began in 1965, poverty began to flat line. From 1965 until now, the government has spent over $20 trillion to fight poverty.

The poverty rate has remained unchanged, but the relationship between poor men and women has changed – dramatically. That’s because our generous welfare system allows women, in effect, to marry the government. And this makes it all too easy for men to abandon their traditional moral and financial responsibilities. Psychologists call such dependency "learned helplessness."

How do we know that the welfare state creates disincentives that hurt the very people we are trying to help? They tell us.

In 1985, the Los Angeles Times asked both the poor and the non-poor whether poor women "often" have children to get additional benefits. Most of the non-poor respondents said no. However, 64 percent of poor respondents said yes. Now, who do you think is in a better position to know?

Tupac Shakur, the late rapper, once said: "I know for a fact that had I had a father, I'd have some discipline. I'd have more confidence." He admitted he began running with gangs because he wanted the things a father gives to a child, especially to a boy: structure and protection.

“Your mother cannot calm you down the way a man can,” Shakur said. “You need a man to teach you how to be a man."

Комментарии
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A friend of mine is a Chicago cop and once told me that when he picks up a juvenile for doing something bad, he asks the kid which parent he lives with. In over 30 years, no kid has ever said "Both."

ROGER
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I am black and I have a father that is in my life. My Dad is a fireman. My mom is a College professor. #BlackExcellence

AjaniJohnson
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Im a white man that grew up without a father. Everything this is saying is true. That part about his father giving wise advice about owning your own life- incredibly inspiring. God bless this man and his father. Im in my 30s and still working on my life and still figuring out my life. But im no longer in jail. I got my work ethic. And I got jesus. Bless all of you for a better life! And keep fathers in the family! DOnt listen to feminism!

rainbowodysseybyjonlion
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I'm black. My mother died when I was 3 years old. So my father and I lived by ourselves for 3 years. I know my dad contemplated suicide at least once, but he kept going just for me. He, then, picked himself back up and got married again to start another family with my stepmom. And even now he's still working his butt off just for the people he loves. I'm so lucky to have a dad like him and after this video, I feel that way more than ever.

Thank you. 😌

redacted
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I'm black and i felt special growing up because i had a dad in the hood im gonna be a great one to my child

BostonGhost
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Fathers are just as important as mothers.

Umirua
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My Father died when I was 5 years old. I still miss him. Everything in this video I recognize in myself. I have been arrested several times, and I never had anyone to teach me discipline.
Fathers matter!

emilsand
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One day I saw a car limping down the road with a flat tire in front of my house. A young black man was driving. I waved him over and asked if he needed help. Long story short, he pulled in. He was nervous about me, the old white guy. I offered for him to leave the car here, and we (or someone) could take the tire to be fixed. He agreed, but had no tools. I got a wrench and a jack and we went to work. He didn’t know how to change a tire. “I’ll teach you. Take this wrench, but be careful. It’s old and it will pinch your fingers. It was my dad’s.” I said a little more about my dad. He stopped, sat still for a second, and said, “My dad wasn’t much good.” He elaborated more, the usual things...his dad hadn’t taken responsibility and had left them. I was stunned that in ten minutes we had reached such a level of familiarity, and felt so bad for him. But he went on to say that he knew he had to do the right things, was in school at the junior college, etc. When the tire was changed, he shook my hand and introduced himself. I’ve never seen him since, but I consider him a friend. I hope he is doing well.

PeopleAlreadyDidThis
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This message maybe directed to black fathers, but it is a good message for all fathers, and the women whom think the state is a better choice than the real thing.

avaxasirvina
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A mother can only teach a boy so much. Even if the parents aren't married, a father involved in his kids lives can have a huge affect. Kids and young adults like to suppress feelings because "daddy was't there" or "daddy never hugged me" or "daddy doesn't love me, so why should I care?" Doesn't matter if you're black or white, married or unmarried, get involved with your children no matter how much you hate the person you had children with. It's not the child's fault if you can't act like a proper adult. Stop the endless cycle of abandoning responsibilities. Love your family and be thankful for the opportunity that has been given to you to raise future leaders of this country.

gorillaz_jbi
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Older generations were so hard working. I find them so impressive. People in my generation don't even appreciate the sacrifice of WW2 and brush off veterans and it's honestly disgusting. Never mind the general attitude towards work.

SgtRooooster
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I had my son out of wedlock and felt terrible when his Father walked away, like I failed him. I prayed God send me a great Husband/Dad for us. Well I got married and he legally adopted my son too. My son absolutely loves the man that took him on as his own...there is always hope.❤

sweet_southern_gal
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As a man raised by a single mother, I cannot like this video enough.

montaniusspiritum
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not having a father is worse than racism

ms.woodard
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Welfare needs to be cut off for those who continue to have illegitimate children and will not work. The cycle has to be stopped.

bcarss
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"You need a man to teach you how to be a man". Tupac

aguasanta
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This is the kind of video that can change the world. Good work and God bless.

thebalder
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Feminism happened, telling women they didn't need men in their lives.

CearaIvory
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The health of a society begins in the home. A whole family has no substitute.

alekk
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Just a quote I read that really hit home for me..." One of the best things a father can do for his children is show them how much he loves their mother." The same would apply to the mother.

jamiedaley