Poverty In African-American Families

Matthew Davenport PSCH 303 02/21/06 Pre Draft

Poverty Destroys American Families

My paper is about the effects of poverty on the African-American family. I want to explore how the absence of fathers and adequate finances leads to poor mental health and self-efficacy in low-income neighborhoods. My thesis is that the effects of poverty are the most important social factor that contributes to the academic and economic underachievement of Blacks in America.

1. Anderson, Elaine A. and Julie K. Kohler. 2005. Predictors of Depression Among Low-Income, Nonresidential Factors. Journal of Family Issues, vol. 26 No. 5, 547 – 567.

This article investigates the life conditions that contribute to low-income fathers’
depression and that may jeopardize their relationships with their children. The sample consisted of 127African American participants in two urban rural responsible fatherhood programs. 56% reported depressive symptoms indicating cause for clinical concern. Significantly, lack of finances and resources were significant predictors of father’s depression.

2. Blake, Reynard. “Beyond the Bling: A Look at Hip-Hop, African-American Leadership & The Black Churches Implications to African-American Youth Development.” The Online Journal of Urban Youth Culture. (February 2003). http://www.juyc.org/current/0302/blake. html.

This article examines the effects of hip hop images on poor families. The article points to images of excessive materialism and degraded women as promoting negative role models to children who already lack family structure. Thus, they are being raised by unhealthy images of manhood that are televised. The article makes a point in that many rap artists refer to the absence of a father in their raps as a burden on their lives that effects their human perspectives.

3. Hoffman, Kristi. 2005. Physical Violence Between Siblings: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis. Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 26 No. 8, 211 – 242.

This article examines the ages and frequencies of acts of physical violence amongst male and female siblings. It does not necessarily deal with the topic of my paper although I was going to attempt to compare any relevant research findings to acts of violence committed amongst African Americans. I was specifically looking for specific causes of violent acts.

4. Letieq, Bethany L. and Sally A. Koblinsky. Parenting in Violent Neighborhoods: African-American Fathers Share Strategies for Keeping Children Safe. Journal of Family Issues, vol. 25 No. 6, 715 – 734.

This study examines the strategies that African American fathers employ to protect preschoolers from community violence. The fathers in the study devoted significant energy to supervising and managing their young children’s behavior. Fathers shielded their preschoolers from potentially dangerous people and situations and were passionate in promoting education as a means of focus.

5. Meyer, Laura. 2004. An Exploration of the Grandparent Caregiver Role. Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 25 No. 8, 1005 – 1025.

This study explores the role transition from grandparent to grandparent caregiver. Participants were female, low income, married with an average age of 53. In this study, behaviors are the major focus in the context of the grandparent-grandchild family structure. The hypothesis is that the grandparent-grandchild family type is relatively unstructured and lacks the formality of organization. The lack of family structure is what leads to low academic achievement.

6. Murray, Velma McBride. Self-Regulation and Self-Worth of Black Children Reared in Economically Stressed, Rural, Single Mother-Headed Families: The Contribution of Risk and Protective Factors. Journal of Family Issues, vol. 20 No. 4, 458 – 484.

This study examines any linkages between family structure, economic status and quality of life from a perspective of single-parent households. The hypothesis is that father-absent households are a causative factor in numerous social problems, such as juvenile delinquency, school dropout and failure, substance and drug abuse, gang violence, and unmarried adolescent parenthood. This is very relevant to the thesis of my paper as it highlights some the feelings of insecurity often associated to poverty.

7. Rank, Mark R. 2001. The Effect of Poverty on America’s Families. Journal of Family Issues, vol. 22 No. 7, 882 – 903.

This study examines poverty in American families by focusing on 5 substantive areas 1) the scope and dynamics of American poverty 2) factors associated with poverty 3) the effects and consequences of impoverishment 4) policy strategies for assisting poor families and 5) needed future research directions. This article is very relevant to my topic. The thesis of the article helps to give my paper direction.

8. Reiboldt, Wendy. Adolescent Interaction with Gangs, Family, and Neighborhoods: An Ethnographic Investigation. Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 22 No. 2, 1103 -1130.

This study uses interview methods to examine the themes and expand on issues surrounding two adolescent males whose families live in impoverished urban neighborhoods where violence and gang activity are common. Their stories give insight to the degree to which households and families are connected, or disconnected, with their surrounding neighborhood, community, and gang presence.

9. Rose, Suzanna and Carolyn M. West. “Dating Aggression Among Low Income African American Youth: An Examination of Gender Differences and Antagonistic Beliefs.” Violence Against Women Vol. 6 No. 5 (May 2000): 470-494.

This article examines dating aggression among African American couples by using survey methods to find feelings of hatred.
Activities such as number of times a partner has hit or yelled at a spouse are recorded. Also surveys were given to find that black couples have high scores for mistrust and violent and guilty feelings towards each other.

10. Smith, Carolyn A. 2005. African-American Fathers: Myths and Realities about their Firstborn Children. Journal of Family Issues, vol. 26 No. 7, 975 - 1001.

This study predicts the involvement of young African-American fathers. Analysis is based on a sample of men who have become fathers by age 22, 67% of which are African American. The hypothesis is that for African American fathers, fulfilling a father role is related to the success of transition to adult roles and relationships. Results suggested that African American fathers do no differ significantly from other young fathers in their contact with and support provided to their eldest biological child.

11. Sun, Yongmin. 2001. Marital Disruption, Parental Investment, and Children’s Academic Achievement: A Prospective Analysis. Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 22 No. 1, 27
-62.

This study analyzes whether or not children from disrupted families have a deficit in performance and parental resources and whether the deficit differed for boys and girls. This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between marital disruption and children’s school performance by addressing 1)whether students’ performance and parental resources show a deficit prior to disruption 2)whether differences in resources between predisrupted and nondisrupted families mediate differences in performance 3)whether parental resources yield equal educational returns for children in different families, and 4)whether postdisruption damages in performance can be predicted by predisruption factors.

12.
Williams, James Herbert. 2000. African-American Family Structure: Are There Differences in Social, Psychological, and Economic Well-Being? Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 21 No. 7, 838 – 857.

This study addresses the research questions: 1) What are the various types of family structures that exist in urban African American households and 2) to what extent to differences in family structure influence social, psychological, and economic well-being as reported by urban African American women. The results indicate that family structure has more influence on African American women’s economic well-being than do social and psychological factors.

The research that I have provides evidence to support my thesis in that there is much data that points to the psychological effects of poverty on black males that separates them from the family. There is also much data to show that absence of male role models in the home lead to poor social skills and academic achievement. I must continue to research this topic and eventually find some journals and articles to either replace or add to the articles which I am using for my
paper.