black families

Family is a basic unit in every society. However, the makeup of a family is more complex to define. There are so many types of families that it is impossible to have one distinct definition in trying to explain how a true family is defined. For example, there are married couples with or without children, single-parent families, and even families headed by gay men or lesbians. These may not have been considered families not too long ago, but now must be recognized because we live in such a diverse society. What I want to focus on is the African-American family, in terms of what they had to go through before, during, and after slavery. As well as, where they are now and where it’s going in the future.
When Africans were brought to America during slavery they were forced to give up most of their heritage and were usually separated from their families. This common occurrence usually brought about tremendous pain and grief to the slaves. “West Africa family systems were severely repressed throughout the New World (Guttmann, 1976)”. Some slaves tried to continue practices, such as polygamy, that were a part of traditional African cultures but were unsuccessful. However, they were successful in continuing the traditional African emphasis on the extended family. In the extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents played important roles. Slaves weren’t allowed to marry, but they didn’t let that stop them, they created their own marriages. And through all the hardships they had placed on them, they developed strong emotional bonds and family ties. The slaves discouraged casual sexual relationships and placed a lot emphasis on marriage and stability. To maintain some family identity, parents named their children after themselves or other relatives or sometimes gave them African names.
Slaves had no control over their lives. Their slave owners made all decisions that had anything to with the slaves. Slave families worked for their masters. The women worked right beside the men.
When slavery finally ended and freedom came, former slaves began to renew their marriage vows since they were now able to legally marry. Former slaves also began to search for lost relatives throughout the south, but few were ever reunited. Things still weren’t that great as African-American families were still poor and tied to the land. Despite the hardships, however, families...

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...came almost obsolete, denying the Black father his sociological and economic functions in the family (Staples, 158).

Conclusion
The Black family has very long and storied history. As young Black male with strong family ties I would like to see other young Black males step up and take actions for their responsibilities. Become aware that it is important for us as a people to relize that we are not an “endangered species”. If we do the things it will be a step in the right direction and we can move on to bigger and better things.

Bibliography

Dickerson, Bette J. 1995. African American Single Mothers: Understanding their lives and Families. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks.
Guttman, Herbert. 1972. The Black Family: From Slavery to Freedom. New York: Pantheon.
McAdoo H.P. (edited) 1981. Black Families. Beverly Hills: Sage Pub.
Spencer, Margaret B., Gerald Brookins, and walter Allen. 1985. Beginnings: The Social and Affective Development of Black Children. Hillsdale, N.J. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Staples, Robert. 1995. The Black Family: Essays and Studies. Belmont, C.A. Wadsworth publishing.
Strong, Bryan. 1998. The Marriage and Family Experience. Wadsworth Publishing