| In the past, single parents were looked upon with pity | | | | are still considered to be unconventional, they are more |
| and shame. Before divorce was so common, it was | | | | widely accepted today than they ever were before. |
| viewed as highly unfortunate, and single parenting was | | | | Issues and Concerns |
| regarded as sad. Though divorce is never a happy | | | | For mothers raising black children alone, there are |
| occasion, the circumstances surrounding single | | | | several factors that must be taken into consideration. |
| parenting today are much more varied and much less | | | | One of the factors is finances. If a single mother is |
| grim. Many single mothers and fathers are raising | | | | also the single financial provider, she is often working |
| children alone by choice and happy to be doing it. | | | | full time, and may even work more than one job. In this |
| Single Parenting in the Black Community | | | | case, adequate childcare must be arranged. For |
| The African American community is one that has | | | | school-aged children, the cost of before and after |
| been dealing with single-parent households for many | | | | school care can be easier for single parents to afford. |
| generations. In the past, single mothers raising black | | | | If the child or children are too young for school, then |
| children have had to do so for numerous reasons, | | | | the single parent must be able to afford full-time child |
| even outside of divorce. The statistics involving black | | | | care or at least be able to rely on the help of a |
| males and early death (by violent crime or otherwise) | | | | grandparent or other relative that can help care for the |
| was one factor. Incarceration rates among black | | | | children while the parent is out earning a living for the |
| males of child-rearing age were also responsible for | | | | family. |
| the fact that most black single parents were women in | | | | Another consideration of black single parents is |
| the past. | | | | access to suitable male role models. Single mothers |
| The landscape of single parenting in the | | | | raising black children have traditionally struggled with |
| African-American community, as in other races has | | | | this, as there isn't always a black male in the family |
| changed considerably over the last couple of decades. | | | | that children can look to as a role model. Fortunately, |
| Single fathers are increasingly taking on the | | | | there are more and more African-American "heroes" |
| responsibility for raising children. Also, single mothers | | | | either in leadership positions, in the media, or in the |
| and single fathers are sharing responsibility of all | | | | community. Big brother and big sister programs offer |
| aspects of child rearing. | | | | access to role model material that black children can |
| Also, the circumstances surrounding single parenting | | | | relate to and spend time with. Many of the |
| have changed considerably, broadening the range of | | | | organizations that provide matching services for |
| reasons it happens in the first place. More and more | | | | children and "role models" promote healthy, long-term |
| people are having children out of wedlock, simply for | | | | relationships that make all the difference in the lives of |
| the objective of having children. Though these choices | | | | children being raised by black single parents. |