Afrikan American Families - Research Paper Example

Synopsis of the Book; Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous? Afrikan American Families Introduction Haki Madhubuti is an informed, passionate and caring commentator about the black culture, life, relationship and development and stability of the black community. In the book "Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The Afrikan American Family in Transition" Haki Madhubuti and Calvin Jones demonstrates this point and focus on the issues faced by the black community (Madhubuti 42). In this book, a vital text for everyone for with some interest to help build a healthy, thriving black communities and families, Madhubuti and Calvin takes aim at some vital factors facing the African American society. This book offers some of useful and practical solutions for arriving at the solutions of the challenges and obstacles facing the African American society (Madhubuti 50). This eloquent but hard-hitting book gives instructions, blueprint and provocative reasoning of why Black American families are today in crisis and most of the book's critics is focused on the "men" in the in the black society who have are yet to stand up and fight for their recognition and space in the world (Madhubuti, 1990:56-7). Sometimes, with humour, Haki breaks down what the issue are the recommended solutions and what we should demand from each other as we take a collective responsibility in ensuring that the solutions are achieved in due course. Haki argued that it is the responsibility of every one ranging from: children, leaders, and Blacks mates. He does his work without being pious or condescending, but loving and stern, and with a lot of soberness. This book is helpful to those Black men seeking knowledge to find enlighten (Madhubuti 108). By acknowledging the fact that healthy families and communities starts with men and women who develops or makes them, Haki highlights the war on black manhood. He seeks to understand the definition of what a man is, the meaning of fatherhood, and discuses the need for proper relationship that should exist between black men and women (Madhubuti76-8). Synopsis of "Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous? The Afrikan American Family in Transition" Haki Madhubuti and Calvin Jones Black neighborhoods in the early 1960s are a far different case compared to the current neighborhood. Forty years ago black teachers, lawyers and doctors all lived in the community. These individuals served as the mentors and the role model of the society. The wide number of black people was involved in community guardianship whereby locals steps in for parents who may who were at work or who were otherwise detained (Madhubuti 118-9). This made the black children to be more comfortable as they knew that they were always being watched by the ever caring and concerned community members. Well respected and prominent members of the society relocated following the passing of the desegregation laws. Many people took this opportunity to seek for new opportunities and to head to the suburbs resulting to the isolation of the many poor blacks in a wanting situation (Madhubuti 100). Neighborhoods disintegrated overnight and because there was no stable tax base important infrastructures and social amenities such as schools fell into disrepair. Public policies and social forces further worsen the already difficult situation. The number of divorces in the African American society increased tremendously in the 1970s. Many young African students dropped out of school and the number of African youths involved in drugs and criminal activities increased (Madhubuti 198). Currently, black families living in the inner city still experience a myriad of problems. A good percentage of violence witnessed in American metropolises can be said to be as result of racial inequality and socioeconomic conditions (Madhubuti 124-8). Something worth noting is that; even the black families who move to the suburban areas were also faced with specific challenges. They did not receive the most appealing welcome from the locals (Madhubuti 200). They were always eyed with suspicion and that made them to live in fear and fascination. Their ideas worldviews and postures were not readily understood. In 1930, nearly 10 times cash was invested in educating white student as compared to the one in educating black student. This also resulted in educational disparities and hence more inequalities. This book makes us realize how young black men are undergoing confusion, pain and disappointment because they are forgotten, homeless, voice-broken and terrorized into becoming thieves, beggars or ultra-dependents on the same system that treat them with less dignity and considers them less human. Unfortunately, these painful traumas are by these young men continue even in the 21st century (Madhubuti 76). Madhubuti tries to understand the role of white world supremacy and he realizes that the white supremacy is a political system. He tries to understand and explain the entomological, cultural, political and philosophical effects of white supremacy and how it is a stamping block to any scholarly study by those who promotes it. It is the background against which other systems are also highlighted as political systems (Madhubuti 190-1). He argues that, even though quite a number of blacks were born and lived in this system, they were not aware and had little knowledge of its existence. Madhubuti describes the state of black people in America as one of abysmal ignorance. However, he acknowledges that it is not the fault of the black people but rather; he blames the educational, political, religious and economic systems for which the blacks have been reared (Madhubuti 220). According to Madhubuti, some of the contemporary forces that influence and shape the dynamic of the current Africa-American families, includes; racism, urbanization, poverty, rural to urban migration, recent migration. The movement from a rural environment to an urban environment by the Black Americans led to the shift from a cohesive community to a state of comparatively anonymity (Madhubuti 90). This change in environment led to the disruption of the traditional family structures. Racism is a major issue that many blacks had to deal with when living in the cities (Madhubuti 132). They experienced discrimination labeled the "new racism" that was more intense and had more effects than the blatant racism that existed before. Challenges that are associated with poverty or hardship includes; health problems, marital dissolutions and distress, deficits in psychological functioning and low educational attainment. These conditions join together to form a network of adverse social conditions that impact the black Americans (Madhubuti 177-9). Continued influx of immigrants from Africa and Caribbean has changed the face of the black American society. This wave of immigration comes with new tensions of cultural identification and assimilation to both the current immigrants and African American who has stayed in the United States of America for centuries. Madhubuti acknowledges the role played by women in the society. He argues that polygamy is not the best for the Black Americans but for the cultures that it exists. In order to have a legitimate, correct and right family structure, they had to be accepted by the practitioners and all the community's institutional structure. In fact, Madhubuti welcomes feminism and accepts the criticism of black women. However, he urges that what is good for a black man is similarly good for black women. He said that Black men should not feel uncomfortable around women who are intelligent, ambitious, culturally focused, serious women or rather; they should encourage those practices especially among black sons and daughters. In this book, Madhubuti, believes that Black Americans were raised in the; sexiest America, homophobic America, classic classism America and Africa Americans did not have all the phobias and the negative aspects of growing as a whole person (Madhubuti 105). He considers homosexuality a lifestyle and man-made not something that is embroil in the culture. Therefore, he urged that we should embrace and appreciate those who are homosexual and stop categorizing them negatively because most of them were genetically and biologically made as heterosexuals (Madhubuti 103). For these problems to be solved then more political, social and economic institutions has to be put in place. The African American should also be aggressive enough to speak in one voice. Even though numerous efforts have been made but there is more to be done especially in this 21st century (Madhubuti 43). African American and their culture influence The African-Americans are Americans by pilferage not by lineage. When immigrants of African origin arrived in America, they become Americanized through wealth and opportunity assimilation and hence became Americans because of their pursuit. African immigrants have improved their economic and social standings since the civil right movements in the US. The recent decades have categorized by a robust, African American middle class all over the US. There has been significant access to employments and education in addition to their increased representations in the highest governmental ranks (Madhubuti 123). Nevertheless, because of the legacy of racism, slavery and decimation, African immigrants as a group has remained in the pronounced, educational, economic and social disadvantage in numerous areas compared to other immigrants such as those from Europe. Continued economic, social and political issues for many immigrants of the African origin include inadequate access to healthcare and delivery; housing discrimination and institutional racism, policing, education, employment and criminal justice; poverty, crime and substance abuse. The most outstanding issue within the African immigrants is poverty. They live below poverty level with their average income estimated $33,916, as compared to white's $54,920 (Madhubuti 89). Reducing Black male disenfranchisement, from birth to old age From their earliest presence in America, African immigrants have contributed art, literature, foods, agricultural skills, clothing styles, language, and music, technological and social innovation to American culture. Some agricultural products such as peanuts, rice, yams, watermelon, cotton and many others have their origin traced back from Africa under the influence of African immigrants. Their music is one of the most pervasive in the US music with hip hop, rock and roll, soul, funk all originating from the black music such as jazz, barbershop, gospel music ragtime and bluegrass. Many African immigrants’ authors have contributed to the field of American literature through their poems, stories and essays. However, much of these culture have been erased by the ever globalization and, inter-marriages has ensured assimilation of the cultures (Madhubuti 178). Most of the African American cultures have been submerged into the American culture and hence they have adopted those of the natives. Technologies have also played part in the deterioration of these cultures with more products being created and invented. Since these African American problems such as criminal injustice and racial discrimination are as a result of complex set of circumstances which have no immediate solutions (Madhubuti 90-2). Only a multifaceted approach can counter-react to many of these economic and social forces which are responsible for the underlying situation. In order to accomplish this proper framework has to be established: Proper jurisdictional commitment that will ensure disparity reduction there should be a public safety focus that will enhance reduction of disparity through crime control act. Increased participation in national governance and proper education, economic and social system that recognizes the existence of the African American population. Many policies and policy makers should focus and support problem-solving responses to community and individual crisis. Recreational activities, mentoring programs and personal skills development should be encouraged. The challenge for the African America is to engage in broad discussion of the mix of the community, family and US government initiative that can change the cycle that has been continued to set motion in centuries. Work Cited Madhubuti, Haki R. Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: Afrikan American Families in Transition : Essays in Discovery, Solution and Hope. Chicago: Third World Press, 1990. pp.40-273. Print. Read More