Monday, September 6, 2010

Racial Gap in Fatherless Children

"If we, in the 21st Century, have fostered a culture where 'baby mama' is an acceptable term, we have little to be proud of."  

Mitch Albom uses sports figures as a starting example in his column entitled, 8 kids with 6 moms? NFL star is shameful. The article's title focuses on New York Jets defensive back Antonio Cromartie, 26. And yet, he is not the worst offender. Travis Henry, the former NFL running back, reportedly has fathered at least 11 children with 10 different women.

Albom goes on to see the problem as a cultural issue that affects Black Americans far more than Whites.  In recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 72% of new babies were born out of wedlock, versus 28% among whites and 17% among Asians.

WE know, thanks to the research of Rickie Solinger, that the racial gap effects adoption mores and practices as well which in turn effects the racial disparity of children being raised by single mothers. White babies are a far more sought after commodity for the adoption market and thus White women are far more pressured to relinquish than are Black women. The social pressures are greatly different as well. By and large, White women are more "expected" to complete higher education before considering motherhood than are Black women.

One also has to wonder if these "out-of-wedlock" figures count the (White) women who chose to go ahead and become single mothers because their biological clock is running way ahead of their ability to meet Mr. Perfect who meets up to their standards. This phenom is in fact also effecting Black women who are bettering themselves with higher education and professional careers. The pool of men for them to choose from is pitifully small as more of their male peers are in jail than White men of the same age category.

So, is the acceptability of the term "baby mama" - the acceptability of women allowing themselves to get "knocked up" in transient relationships and hook ups an indication of a society in great danger? Or are these simply women who need our support?  Is making men pay child support enough, or for children, as Albom and other suggest, being raised without a father the underlying cause of much delinquency and crime? Does the same apply for the affluent women who become single moms by choice - and if so, why is no one raising that issue as a concern? Answer: Because they can AFFORD to financially support their children without a man, and that makes it acceptable, because after all the whole purpose of marriage is to provide financial support for children so as not to burden the state.

And where are those so concerned about the "fatherlessness of America" when father's constitutional right to parent are stomped on? Where is David Blanehorn who literally wrote the book on fatherlessness and his Center for Families and Marriage  (straight, heterosexual marriage) and others concerned about this issue when fathers who are begging to stand up and care for their children are told they did not dot their i's and cross their t's in a timely enough manner to exercise their right?

Where were these concerns as states approved legalized abandonment of babies in so-called Safe Havens? And initiated Putative Father Registries...all in an effort to expedite adoption of children before a father had an instant to claim his intentions?

Let us also not forget that many of same self-righteous "Family Values" proponents also themselves have fathered "out-of-wedlock" children often while married to another...and let us also forget that many of these same self-righteous "Family Values" types are solidly opposed to women's right to chose whether to carry an unintended pregnancy full term.   And are first in line to block same-sex marriage while being promoting marriage!

Family Values needs to value all families and respect the rights of all fathers and all mothers.

2 comments:

CullyRay said...

Very good... "Family Values needs to value all families and respect the rights of all fathers and all mothers."
"No, African Americans aren't the only ones having kids out of wedlock. But, yes, the news is worst in that community, where, in recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 72% of new babies were born out of wedlock, versus 28% among whites and 17% among Asians. This is not in the skin. It is not about color. It's about culture." Interesting that the ratio of out-of-wedlock children that are kept and raised by their Mothers/families of origin is not included. Nor does Albomb seem to be aware that either parent would be hard pressed to get a higher education (when keeping their child) without help (i.e. a spouse, supportive family members, a stipend like that given to foster (non-related) homes and some adoptive (non-related) homes).
"..many of same self-righteous "Family Values" proponents also themselves have fathered "out-of-wedlock" children often while married to another...and let us also [not] forget that many of these same self-righteous "Family Values" types are solidly opposed to women's right to chose whether to carry an unintended pregnancy full term. And are first in line to block same-sex marriage while being promoting marriage!" Right, girls and women who are pregers out-of-wedlock can't name the father (as if these girls suffered from 'spontaneous pregnancy'), the secret fathers then decry abortion (they don't want their secret child aborted), and then demand that families be made up of only heterosexual pairs as though having parents of opposite sexes insures a good and loving home. HA!

CullyRay said...

more quotes from Albomb - "
Cromartie enjoys his sex, but is it a sin to take precautions? Or does he think his seed is so special he needs to procreate on a quarterly basis?
And what about the women involved? Are they that naive? Or do some figure the fastest route to a sports star's wallet is through the delivery room?" Why is it that a joke is made about Cromartie thinking his "seed is so special" but the women are referred to as either unbelievably naive or gold diggers??

"Both parties ignore the well-documented consequences of absent fathers. Lack of guidance, discipline or demonstration of the love and respect needed in a marriage. Crime rates, dropout rates, violence rates -- all are higher for kids without fathers." I am so (not) sorry but hello... what kind of a role model is Cromartie going to be? He's married and they have a child - would it be so bad if that child didn't get influenced by it's father. Having two parents is only as good as the two parents involved - sometimes, One is better.

RussiaToday Apr 29, 2010 on Russian Adoption Freeze

Russi Today: America television Interview 4/16/10 Regarding the Return of Artyem, 7, to Russia alone

RT: Russia-America TV Interview 3/10

Korean Birthmothers Protest to End Adoption

Motherhood, Adoption, Surrender, & Loss

Who Am I?

Bitter Winds

Adoption and Truth Video

Adoption Truth

Birthparents Never Forget