LL Cool J dropped a quote via Twitter that I liked. I've learned it to be an important truth in life. "We have to surround ourselves with people that will lift us higher." That being said, there's a brother that lives below me that I avoid a lot because he doesn't keep good company. On the way from the store today, he stops me and wants to talk. "I have a little time,what's up brother?" He begins to vent and tell his story. His old lady won't work, no vehicle, scarce financial times, along with a dream to produce Christian rap. This 22 year old is lost in the labyrinth of life. "Brother you got to surround yourself with people that will uplift you, take you higher." Then he said "You grew up with your father huh?" Indeed. "Yeah, you sound like it. Well I didn't." That's reality for a lot of people. Fortunately, my dad has been with me since day one. The more I hear a person's story about no father, I appreciate mine more. Also within that, I feel a responsibility to help those who didn't. Having both parents should be commonplace; It should be the norm. Reality is, that ain't reality. 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. According to US Census Bureau Report, 65% of black children lived in a single parent home headed by mothers, whom we owe much commendation. Now that figure compares with 36% of Hispanic children and 27% of white children. A child with a nonresident father is 54% more likely to be poorer than his/her father. 90% of black children will be fed by food stamps. Very staggering numbers. Malcolm referred to poor people as "the ones stuck deep in the mud." Now those numbers are more often the byproducts of 400 years of oppression and the lingering effect, but how long can blame the ref for you losing the game? It gets old. You have to play hard through setbacks to give yourself a chance. We have to start making better life choices as well as lifestyle choices. We must begin to love ourselves, one another, our God(because God must be an activity of our consciousness), our community, OUR YOUTH, and our heritage of humanity. I fervently commend those who do, but according to numbers, you are a minority; so we have work to do. Everybody and everything NEEDS and DESERVES a FATHER. If one is not ready to father a child, be a man of realization, and protect yourself. We aren't giving our youth a real chance! They start underwater and we wonder why they drown. You can't control the psyche of an immoral cop, but you can definitely control whether you assist in impregnation, all the while flirting with poverty. Being without a father affects children in the most important area: paideia! Education! Fatherless children are twice likely to drop out of school. 62% of children living with both parents have parents that are highly active in their school. It is easier to become a father, than to be one. Thanks Pops.
1 comment:
As an educator I think the focus on the father's role in the well-being of the child is often forgotten. Those students who do come from single parent homes lead by women tend to have complete resistance and/or fear towards males in the classroom. They are more aggressive as well. The effects are not to be overlooked. Our children learn best through effective modeling. So those with the knowledge must not simply preach but live the lifestyle if we want to truly spread positivity, cultivate change and help others.
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