For background, read 'Intact Family' Nearly Extinct among Blacks and also read Government Destines Black Children to Poverty as well as Liberalism Causes Poverty in America: Study
-- From "Is Marriage for White People?" by David Kaufman, Time Magazine 8/31/11
Researched and written over the past 10 years, Banks' book explores the unpleasant — and often unspoken — contributors to and consequences of declining marriage rates among African Americans. With 70% of all black children now born to unwed mothers, the consequences have never been clearer. . . .
Time: At a time when marriage is becoming less popular among all ethnicities, why such a strong focus on wedded bliss?
Banks: I'm not necessarily speaking of a physical marriage license, but rather the importance of a stable committed relationship — and there is a serious decline of committed stable relationships in black America today. This has many undesirable outcomes not just for adults, but also for children who are the most vulnerable parties here. Seventy percent of black children today are born to non-married partners; most of these relationships do not last, which means most of these kids grow up with just one parent and this is not an optimal situation for child-rearing.Time: Your book almost exclusively focuses on the experiences of African Americans. Why should white people read it?
Banks: Sure, the book is rooted in the black community, but the themes — marriage, children, inter-marriage — resonate across group lines. Plus, there are many white people who have black friends or co-workers who see that their lives are different from their own, but aren't sure how to talk about those differences. They see unmarried black women around them and wonder why they are single. These are topics that black women regularly speak of amongst themselves, but would never discuss in front white people.Time: With so much talk of unmarried women, fatherless children, economic insecurity, your book feels kind of grim. Where is the hope here for the women you claim to care about?
Banks: The hope here is that black women will be able to shape their own lives and not be victims of circumstance. . . . This is a hopeful book, but not a relentlessly upbeat book because that would have not been true to reality.To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.