"Black In America" by Soledad O'Brien. what can I say that hasn't been said about the "Black Crisis in America.  The plight of the black family has it's roots in slavery. The final nail occurred in the 60's. During our march to civil rights, women were also fighting for equal rights also. Its also was the beginning of the single parent family. The latch-key kid didn't come until the 70's. Trust me I'm one.

How did the 60's civil rights and womens rights marches destroy the black family and strain the relationships between male and females (blacks)? Well as we were recovering from Jim Crow, slavery and just plain cruel conditions. Women were also starting to come into their own. And as with any relationship, when one evolves and the othe is stagnant. The relationships withers and dies. Let's not forget the economic conditions of those times. Lack of jobs, still ongoing racial tension. Add in the introduction of crack cocaine from the eigthies and you have the destruction of the black family.

With so many female led familes, young black boys have no where or one to learn how to become a man. Daughters desparate for a father's attention are led astray by whomever shows them attention.  Regardless of their motives.  In my opion a little boy needs a father to teach him the social skills he will need to be a man.  A lot of these want to be be men believe the ends justify the means.  Money will solve all their problems.  If you believe that just ask all those instant millioniares who won the lottery. Most of them are broke or in worst trouble than they could dream of.  The mind and personality must be changed.  With no men around the little boys are going to adapt to their envirornment. They take on the characteristics of thhose around them. Now that doesn't mean that all little boys without a father or male figure in their life is a or  have homosexual tendieces. No that is not the point. Just saying they have some female mannerisms, ususally quick to argue, or like to argue, constantly seeking something to change, etc,etc. They are just to numerous to name.  the old strong silent type male role model is gone. And we are still looking for one.

For the little girls, with now male role model around. They are usually attracted to someone who is not good for them. They are abused mentally or physically. Or they become mothers of 2,3,4 or more children. Either by the same man who's no good or by different men. Which their chldren see this process and the cycle has begun again. As single mothers they find it hard to find someone to share their life with. Which leads to isolation and deprression. You spend all your time trying to take care of a family and all its needs. Sisters you have my eternal gratitude for what you have endured and saved. It's hard I know. The choices that are made for us we have no control over. The choices we make good or bad we must learn from. That is our central problem in the black communtiy. We must learn from the mistakes of our past. So shows like this will not be necessry. We must break the cycle of ignorance and poverty. We all know fast money does not last. So ladies quit looking for the bad boy. You can't change him. Men get your education and expand your mental, cutural horizons. And all of us QUIT HAVING MORE BABIES THAN YOU CAN AFFORD!  By changing the way we think and act will change our situation in America. The way will be hard and long. Nothing good happens over night. This is just my  opinion folks.