African-American Families Socioeconomic Issues

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Abstract

African American families experience numerous obstacles that emanate from social, economic, and cultural issues. Drug abuse, unemployment, poverty, incarceration, single parenthood, cultural norms, and limited access to a good education are some of the main obstacles that African American families face in the United States. In the obstacle of drug abuse, families are grappling with challenges associated with drug addiction, school dropout, and juvenile delinquency. Unemployment and poverty create poor and unstable families, which are susceptible to break up. The disproportionate incarceration of African American men contributes to single parenthood, which is also an obstacle, and thus affects the stability of families. Cultural norms support the patriarchal order of the family, which demeans women, and thus, makes them subjects in families. Moreover, limited access to education marginalizes African American families and plunge them into poverty, where they grapple with issues of unemployment and drug abuse.

To address social, economic, and cultural obstacles, the state needs to educate individuals about the effects of drugs on health and families. Furthermore, the state ought to enact regulations, which govern the use of drugs. Empowerment is also another solution that can help to increase employment opportunities for African American families. An increment in employment opportunities implies that African American families have the ability to meet their financial requirements and reduce their poverty levels. Infrastructural development enhances accessibility to better education and increases competencies and expertise among the African Americans who attend these schools. Sensitization of the African Americans and the empowerment of women are some of the solutions that eliminate gender discrimination. The criminal justice system requires affirmative action to alleviate the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans. Value acquisition institutions are very instrumental in the stabilization of families and reducing incidences of single parenthood.

Introduction

Families across the world continue to experience challenges that mainly emanate from social, economic, and cultural factors. African American families experience many obstacles, which threaten the survival of families as important social units in society. Hattery and Smith (2007) identify drug abuse, unemployment, poverty, incarceration, single parenthood, limited access to education, and cultural norms as the major challenges facing African Americans families. The prevalence of these challenges indicates that African American families have many obstacles, which affect their survival in modern society. In this view, there is a need to address the social, economic, and cultural issues to promote the survival and stability of African American families. Therefore, the research paper examines the obstacles that African American families face and provides respective solutions.

Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse has become a major obstacle, mainly among young people, who are vulnerable to social influences. Several youths engage in drug and substance abuse due to the pressure from society. Presently, drug and substance abuse is among the major challenge in various African American families that live in the United States. Some of the major drugs and substances abused include cocaine, heroin, and bang (Hattery & Smith, 2007). Additionally, the youth and adults in the United States are vulnerable to the challenge of drug abuse since it is a national menace. Evidently, the lifestyles and cultural practices of individuals living in the United States are diverse and liberal. Education and empowerment of individuals concerning the effects of drug abuse and regulation from the state are some of the important solutions that can effectively reduce drug abuse.

Unemployment

Unemployment is another obstacle that African American families face as they undertake their daily activities. Due to gender and racial discrimination exercised by some Whites Americans, African Americans find it difficult and challenging to get employment (Simmons, 2009). Several employers in the country are reluctant to hire an African American, but they easily recruit White Americans regardless of their level of competence and education. Underemployment of African American transpires when employers underpay them after service delivery. Although gender and racial discriminations have been reduced to minimal levels, the people, who still practice them, should face the necessary disciplinary measures. Regulation from the state and enlightenment of individuals on the effects of gender and racial discrimination are some of the solutions that are useful in curbing the obstacle.

Poverty

Poverty and low cost of living is an obstacle that is prevalent in several African American families in the United States. The obstacle relates to challenges such as unemployment, poor wages, and salaries, as well as racial segregation. Furthermore, the outdated and substandard infrastructural facilities in school that African American children attend make them incompetent or unqualified as opposed to the White counterparts, who attend good schools and learning institutions. Several African American families are average and low-income earners, and thus, the support and care that they render to their families drain them and result in a vicious cycle of poverty (Hattery & Smith, 2007). Improvement of infrastructure, empowerment of African Americans through increased access to the privileges enjoyed by the Whites, and employment are the solutions that can resolve the obstacle of poverty.

Incarceration

The disproportionate incarceration of African American men is an obstacle that affects the stability of African American marriages. The predisposition to drug abuse, criminal activities, and racism contributes to the high rates of incarceration among African American men. According to Hattery and Smith (2007), 25% to 30% of African American men are under incarceration, and thus, they are unable to maintain stable, healthy, and intimate relationships in their families. Consequently, the marriage rates among African Americans have declined in the past 30 years, owing to incarceration. The solution to the issue of incarceration is that the government should empower the African men to engage in meaningful economic activities and undertake affirmative reforms in the criminal justice system to aid the rehabilitation and correction process.

Single Parenthood

African American marriages are quite unstable, owing to the social, economic, and cultural obstacles that they experience. The issue of gender inequality is at the center of single parenthood as when men fail their responsibilities and women become empowered, competition emerges in the families. Hattery and Smith (2007) argue that when women earn more than their men do, marriages are likely to dissolve for women would no longer agree to accept secondary roles in the family. In essence, the empowerment of women results in divorce and single parenthood. Simmons (2009) asserts that controlling matriarchy diminishes patriarchy and destabilizes families in modern society. To prevent the occurrence of single parenthood, the society should strengthen value acquisition institutions such as schools, places of worship, and community so that they can instill values and virtues of marriage.

Limited Access to Education

African Americans encounter the obstacle related to the inaccessibility of education as they strive to pursue their careers. The obstacle to the inaccessibility of education transpires because several children in African American communities attend schools that have limited resources. As a result, individuals in African American families fail to match up to the expectations of several employers, especially on matters relating to competencies and expertise. Hattery and Smith (2007) point out that the schools that several children from African American families attend have facilities that do not meet the required standards. The best possible solution for the obstacle relates to the integration and encouragement of both the African Americans and White Americans to school in the same institutions of learning. Additionally, the state should execute infrastructural development, which upgrades the facilities found in public schools located in African American regions.

Cultural Norms

The culture of African Americans promotes gender inequality, for it perceives women are lesser humans than men are. Such a perception influences gender roles and consequently becomes an obstacle to the civilization of African American families. Hattery and Smith (2007) state that the power and position that men hold in the family as breadwinners make women less powerful, for they are mere homemakers. Cultural norms that recognize patriarchy degrade women and make them subjects of families instead of partners (Simmons, 2009). In this view, cultural norms encourage the occurrence of issues that relate to gender inequality and discrimination of women in African American families. To address the issue of cultural norms, promotion of gender equality through the sensitization of African Americans and the empowerment of women are appropriate solutions that could alleviate obstacles of gender inequality.

Conclusion

African American families experience many obstacles that relate to social, economic, and cultural factors. Specifically, drug abuse, unemployment, poverty, incarceration, single parenthood, limited access to education, and cultural norms are some of the obstacles that threaten the existence of African American families. In this view, interventions aimed at addressing these obstacles are essential.

References

Hattery, A., & Smith, E. (2007). African American Families. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Web.

Simmons, C. (2009). Making Marriage Modern: Womens Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II. Oxford University Press. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!