A Distinct Lack of Fathers
NRO’s Lee Habeeb posted an excellent article today entitled The War Against Black Men in which he addresses the actual disease which afflicts the black community* in Chicago and other urban areas (fatherlessness), instead of simply paying lip service to one of its many symptoms (rampant gun violence).
I was very fortunate to grow up as black child who had the greatest of role models to look up to in my father (as well as both of my grandfathers), and I do not take that fact for granted. The issue of fatherlessness in the black community has long been a topic that simultaneously angers and saddens me whenever I consider it. Many of us have often debated the extensive flaws of 1960s-era liberal policies, and to my admittedly youthful eye, the specific deterioration of the black family has been one of the most damaging – not only to the black community itself, but to our nation as a whole.
On several occasions, I’ve heard and read Conservative Godfather™ Thomas Sowell (a man for whom I have the utmost respect) and others discuss the once vibrant communities of Harlem and other “black” neighborhoods, and it pains me to consider what our culture and our nation could have looked like had we maintained our fidelity to championing the traditional nuclear family. These used to be places of rich culture and true community, not the illusory “community” that is now so often alluded to by the Left in its attempt to have everyone fall in line.
This is by no means simply a “black” problem, as socioeconomic status and familial status have many ties that bind one to the other. But the state of the black community paints an important picture. Leftist rhetoric regarding its desire to address the plight of the black community stands in stark contrast to the numerous problems that Leftist policies have actually wrought in their wake. But as we all know, bureaucrats on both sides of the aisle are often shielded from suffering political consequences from their poor, and often dangerous, decisions made with the “best of intentions.”
Mr. Habeeb hits the nail on the head when he says, “Chicago doesn't have a gun problem; it has a father problem." Indeed.
*I hesitate to use the term “black community” here since it only reinforces the false narrative that black people are one big homogeneous group that thinks, acts, and speaks alike. Although one may think otherwise from our misguided (in my opinion) voting record, such is not the case. However, I use the term here with that caveat due to my inability to address such nuance at length in this short post.
- Comment (46)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (28)
Comments:
Jan '11
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
I happened to spend a brief time in Central America years ago, while a Jesuit. Our group spent time in El Salvador and Nicaragua, and both were suffering the effects of their respective civil wars. Basically, a whole generation of fathers were wiped out - and you could see the results.
Young men had only two choices: join the government or join the rebels. Both were gangs, plain and simple. Once they joined, the gangs treated each individual simply as fodder, to be thrown into, and butchered, in every battle. The result is not only a violent society, but a society where individuals see themselves as meaningless.
I've read accounts of other civilizations, from pre-Columbus tribes to the Romans to the Celts, and how they came back after various wars. The lack of fathers afflicts a culture for several generations.
What's different about this current wave of American fatherlessness is that it's almost entirely self-inflicted. Fathers haven't been killed. This is by the culture's choice. And although it may have begun in the inner cities, the lack of fathers is now widespread.
What makes us any different from those other cultures?
May '11
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
What's happened to the black family is nothing short of a national tragedy. If conservatives talk about this the white ones are branded as racists by the left and the black ones as Uncle Toms by the "black community". The problem is that the left is so invested in the racial grievance industry its impossible to have an honest discussion about it.
Sep '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Please post more.
Nov '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
I second this.
Oct '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
You have made a good start on the long commentary you have in mind. Long commentaries are usually linked from Ricochet to other sites, but there is no reason it should be so.
If you have your own site to post, then give us links. If not, take a look at the "Member Tips". The length of the commentary isn't the issue. You are free to also break a commentary up into several 'chapters'.
Say what you believe we will respond to with the friendship we joined Ricochet to display. Remember, most of us conservatives are white. We have little experience with blacks in our day to day life. We do not avoid it, we simply lack the opportunity.
We do have other black members, but the issue of race is not often addressed. Yet, it is one of the major issues that effects our lives and our politics.
Now's your chance and our's.
Edited on January 17, 2013 at 9:42pmAug '11
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Very good post.
It's really interesting point.
Sep '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
The conservative community has long understood the value of family and fathers as well as the domino unintended consequenses of leftist policies, race identification, and victim mentalities.
I know I have been making these arguments for years. Now I am absolutely sick of the whole thing. More than 90% of blacks voted for Obama, twice. The media doesn't talk about this, and if they do they choose the object - guns or some abstract like "violence".
To use the term "fatherlessness" is inexact and will be similarly abused. More accurate is the prevailing lack of respect for fathers, or a cultural devaluation of fathers. Because I tire too of some people simply blaming men for being irresponsible and not raising their children. The problem is bigger than that, and just wagging fingers without fundamental change will do no good.
But even worse, the areas hardest hit -Chicago, Detriot, LA, DC Philadelphia, Baltimore Oakland, Atlanta are run by corrupt Democrats who are mostly racialist demagogues who pretend to care but would rather feed at the government trough.
A buch of white folks saying this, as I have for 30 years, won't change much.
Sep '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
It would be much more effective if Republicans would use reverse psychology. In fact we can be pretty sure that whatever we* say they will do/think the opposite.
If we be racists, then we should act like racists and tell them we don't want them to get married, we don't want them to have fathers, we want there to be destruction in the inner cities, that the black mayors and city councils are our puppets - our Uncle Toms, doing our bidding to wipe out or otherwise cripple the black community, because we hate them.
It's all working out just great for us. Everyone thinks Obama is so great because he has the same color skin, and he's doing nothing! We love it!
Here's a guy who is half-white , grew up very differently than 90% of black folk in this country - Hawaii, Indonesia, raised by white grandparents, private schools, Harvard, never really had to work, didn't have any more black friends than other suburban (white or half-white) kids. And these idiots think they got their guy into office and somehow they can be proud! What a scam we racists have pulled off!
Jun '12
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
sawatdeeka
I second this. · 1 hour ago
I third. Outstanding post, sir.
Nov '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Cornelius Julius Sebastian
sawatdeeka
I second this. · 1 hour ago
I third. Outstanding post, sir. · 8 minutes ago
I fourth....er, carry the motion.....eh....Hear, hear!
Jun '12
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
This needs to be on the Main Feed!!!
Sep '11
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Thanks so much for all of the positive responses. I truly wish I had time to post more regularly, but law school, etc. continue to take up a lot of my time. I originally joined Ricochet because of all the amazing podcasts, but hope to become more involved on the site in the future.
Sep '12
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Jason, I'd like to hear any ideas you have to address the issue of fatherlessness. Do you think churches can do something to encourage marriage and dedicated fatherhood? Much as we hate to stigmatize anything or anybody, it does play a role in helping people avoid single parenthood in communities where unwed parenthood is considered an embarrassment. I personally think that beginnning at very young ages, kids should be taught in school that the most surefire way to avoid poverty is to graduate from HS, get married before having kids, and stay married. But what mostly influences kids behavior is the lives of people in their family and community--that's what most of them imagine for themselves. This really is one of the top issues on my list of ills that I would like to see vigorously addressed. I've seen that longing in the eyes of a kid who wishes he had a father far, far too many times.
Jun '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
May I add my vote to more of your posts?
If you have ideas on how I can help, I would love to hear them.
Apr '11
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
This is an excellent post. I echo the thoughts of others above and hope to read more from you as your schedule permits.
May '12
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Jason P. Smith:
This is by no means simply a “black” problem, as socioeconomic status and familial status have many ties that bind one to the other.
Case in point the looting and riots that took place across the UK in August 2011. Fatherlessness and the humanity-crushing socialist welfare state were elements that enabled those nationwide riots.
Oct '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
This woman has some very well-reasoned thoughts on this subject:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w__PJ8ymliw
Jul '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
TeamAmerica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w__PJ8ymliw · 1 hour ago
Fascinating.
It is my belief that the governmental promotion of single motherhood has led to the overall lack of fathers, and the subsequent creation of feral males. They collect in packs (gangs), dog-eat-dog into the hierarchy, and treat females as simply sexual objects ("hoes"). Fathers give males a civilizing effect, teaching them proper behavior, virtue, responsibility, etc. Those are difficult issues to have mothers teach males. The statistics prove that.
Sep '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
From the NRO article: You don’t know their names because the media aren’t interested in getting at the real cause of much of the senseless gun violence in America: fatherlessness.
This is another shallow take on the cause, or the real cause, it's a little better than blaming guns, but not much.
Every child has a father, so the term fatherlessness is imprecise. There is no father who is actively engaged in the boys life. This is one of the many causes. But let's just isolate this one - because it is important - and ask, "Why?
The expansion of the welfare state, undermining the traditional role of the male, providing incentives for women to have children and not be married or dependent on a male provider.
The feminist movement, which further sought to undermine traditional male roles, demanded affirmative action laws for itself, putting affluent white women in the same category as disadvantaged black men, otherwise bestowing advantage to black women who wished to work which further imbalanced the black community.
The drug war. Hello?
Edited on January 18, 2013 at 4:10pmMay '10
Re: A Distinct Lack of Fathers
Jason - How do you handle being a conservative? Do you get the same vitriol from family and friends that a Clarence Thomas or Allen West gets?
I ask because, to a certain extent, these other men expect it as the cost of being in the pubic arena. But do you get it in private, too?