New Beginnings

New Beginnings

 

"In Recent Social Trends, William F. Ogburn shows by a mass of statistical evidence that the family in American society has lost or is losing its historical functions: health, economic, educational, recreational, religious, and protective. He points out, however, that it still retains three significant functions: affection, rearing of children, and the informal education of its members."

 

Excerpt from The Negro Family in the United States by E. Franklin Frazier (1939).

 

      The above statement, in my opinion, is quite accurate of the majority of African American families in recent society. Not only have we as a people lost our functions in regards to “health, economic, educational, recreational, religious, and protective” but we have lost the last three functions of “affection, rearing of children, and informal education of its members.”

      More often than not, the adult partnership consisting of a male and a female that are not always bound by marriage will cohabitate and produce offspring that neither of them had planned for economically or psychologically being that the so called "adults" are mere children themselves. These individuals are therefore thrust into the realm of parenthood, which tends to contribute to the lack of the ability to provide adequate health care, or informal education. I have noticed a common practice of African American families to place more focus on the "appearance" of wealth as a status symbol rather than actually placing emphasis on economic stability within the household. The gravitation to the nicest cars with the flashiest wheels, the "iced out" accessories, the latest telecommunication gadget, designer clothing, unnatural physical enhancements and other accoutrements leads to the gratuitous squandering of one’s income which in turn leaves little financial means to provide for a family. This subsequently contributes to higher instances of stress in the household which affects the ability of the care givers to provide adequate affection, protection and guidance or “rearing of” the child.  These circumstances compounded by the decline of religious and community leadership create a milieu of social decline in the African American populous.

 

     Since the issues have been made apparent, a solution must be formulated. But the questions that often arise are “Where do we begin?” “And whom do we look to for guidance?” Most often, the burden of responsibility is placed on the local clergy to provide the necessary answers and wisdom. Are we to assume that the religious leaders possess a degree of insight that the common person is not privy to? Or is it the mere laziness of many individuals that cause them to rely on the intercession of the self-deified pontiffs of politically engineered social control also known as “religion”?

    It is my conviction that we as individuals have the sole responsibility to “informally” and “formally” educate ourselves in regards to the areas of health, economics, education, and spirituality (not to be confused with religion.) If we begin to create “think tanks” or forums of capable people discussing the course of ACTION that is needed to reverse and eventually eradicate the demise that is plaguing our society, then and only then can we begin the process of enjoying true protection and recreation. The social injustices that have been the downfall of this nation since its chicaneries of inception, commencing with the words “We the People” and concluding with the signatures of slave owners and traders; have run its allotted course. Now is the time for all to awaken to a new realm of possibilities, a new era of thinking, and a new way of life.