72% of Black Kids Born to Unwed Mothers

November 9th, 2010 - By admin

As I was leaving a supermarket in downtown Los Angeles that I frequent with my husband and two sons, an African-American female security guard made the statement, “I told my daughter I want to be just like you. Your family seems so together and happy.” We chatted for awhile, and I learned that she was the unwed mother of 4 children and struggling with two jobs to support her family.

Read more and sort your thoughts out here.

Tags:

, , ,

Madame Noire Video

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • Eve

    That's because many of these men refuse to glove up before hand. Yes, a woman can be on birth control etc but why is she the only one responsible for what happens? Truthfully, black men or any man for that matter need to wear a condom before hand and that'll help the issue. However! There are many men I know, especially black men who have a family and then simply walk out. Smh. Black men be responsible and handle your business and stop walking out or neglecting your children.

  • http://www.hlhkgkhjkgffjjjkcc.ca Mose Abdella

    I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my goals. I absolutely love reading everything that is written on your blog.Keep the aarticles coming. I enjoyed it

  • Pingback: The War Against the Western Family is the War Against Westernism - US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

  • Odetta

    Well as a single mother, i know from experience that my son deserves to have a mother and a father in the home. i know that it was my error in judgement that caused my son to tbe born out of wedlock! i hate to be considered a statistic but it is what it is. Yes being a single parent gives me pride like nothing else, builds character and definately shows me my strengths and weaknessess BUT my son deserves even more than that. I say this all to say that it begins in the home, we should teach and show our youth better and they will do better! My son will still be balanced because I have positive male influences in his life such as his uncles, cousins and grandfathers and i am grateful. However lets just be sensitive to those women that may not have those influences to call upon for their sons and daugters. moving forward we need to make better decisons but for those children that are already here with no dad or positive male influence we need to love on them every chance we get!

  • JAY

    These topic alway help us scratch the surface of what really is the issue. Whenever you see a woman without a covering (man) you see issues and problems. Their use to be a time when women didn't make the choice whom they would date or marry. Now, I know this seem acient but women wanted thier independecy and freedom. However it took away the womens covering which is the man (father) This took place because women fought to get rid of tradition to be able to choose as they see fit. Now look what we have today. A product of issue of unwed mothers, weak family structures, a standard that is made up as we go because each and every women has their own way of doing things.

    I do believe that women should have input into thier future…by all means it your life. However traditions and concepts that women fought to get rid of to have freedom and independecy. Now are faced with issues that were answered with those practices in our past. Now I am not saying go back to the ole days but what I am saying is to lets look at what works and come up with a solution that implement structure and answered to this Unwed mother thing.

    Secondly, Women have the choice to be pregnant. With all the BC out here and plan B a women can protect herself versus puting her life and future in this man hand. I think they call this being responsible. Nevertheless, we also can change some of the criterias of our welfare system. Why is it only when a women is single and without a man she can recieve aid? In today's society what women is really going to want to go through the up and downs that relationship holds when she has a bail out plan.

    Thirdly, MEN need to be MEN and be responsible. To have a family and totally neglect your responsiblity I believe that you should be hung or executed….and I know that seems harsh but even our father in heaven states (paraphrasing) that u shouldn't mess with my children it would be better if you would tie a milstone around your neck and be cast into the uttermost part of the seas. This Comment is just my opinion.

  • LulaBelle

    To Miss Desi, the second commentor…sometimes the men are married…just not to the mothers. So 72% unwed mothers is accurate.

  • Bronze

    funny thing is not all the mothers are black. HA!

  • Miss Desi

    72% of Black Kids Born to Unwed Fathers. Maybe that's how it should be titled.

  • michael b

    There are many reasons to be a single mother. And it is true that any woman has a choice NOT to have sex with a man. However, I know an awful lot of single black mothers who did NOT make the choice of raising their children alone. It was the choice of the men who chose NOT to step up and be fathers to their own kids.

    Yes, it can help to examine the statistics, and maybe men and women should stop being promiscuous, but what I see here is a lot of denial. And, yes, our President was raised by a strong woman, but 75% of children with only a mother is outrageous. Black women and children deserve better than that.

    Raising a child alone can be gratifying, but it puts the mother and the child at a disadvantage: financially, socially, and emotionally.

    What child (of any race) would not benefit from a positive male role model? From seeing 2 parents spend a lifetime together, responding to problems in a mature manner. From receiving love from 2 parents who love each other and who love their child?

    You can say the problem is promiscuity, or that women refuse to have abortions, or you can question the statistics, but the fact is, yes, this is an epidemic and it needs to be addressed and not to be ignored, denied, or explained away.

  • Lyndon

    Keep side-stepping the issue and the rate will continue to increase. We ARE in crisis. Why do black folks want to divide our race into classes?

    We choose to be inclusive when its beneficial, but when disparaging stats are thrown out, we try to distance ourselves from the impoverished. Let's own it all.

    **I'm pretty sure black women abort at the same rate if not higher for fear of being lumped in with the rest.

  • MrGantri

    Attack the statistic, divert the focus from the main point, and the classic "well, what about [fill in the blank]:

    You hyper-sensitives immediately think that someone is attacking you (especially blacks) – never mind how much true the story holds. Even if white women are popping out babies like tic-tacs, it's blacks that are treating other blacks LIKE tic-tacs= chew'em up, use'em up and move onto the next.

  • TeawithLemon

    Not a crisis. These are choices these women have made for whatever reasons. No one accidentally has a child.

  • tina

    thank you devin.

    smear campaign.

    maybe this statistic means black women dont get abortions…

    dont we have enough negativity in our community?

    just because youre married with kids

    dosent mean your going to raise a better person.

    im not embarassed, thats what people want.

    i am from a married home but just because you are a product of a single parent home does not mean you are a lowlife citizen who is destined to be a menace to society.

    his parents were married however….

    BARACK OBAMA WAS THE PRODUCT OF A SINGLE PARENT HOME….

  • tina

    this is not news.

    its statistics.

    look at the history of black families in this country.

    were they not sepereated and sold like puppies from the back of a truck in a parking lot?

    this is nothing to be embarassed about. its nothing new, the numbers are much easier to convey due to media.

    what mother wished to raise a family alone?

    there are many factors that make up for these statistics.

    maybe…

    due to a skewd justice system many black men end up incarcerated..

    having a child is not a good reason to be married.. for may reasons.

  • Devin

    I just love statistics. And the way they are used and misused.

    72% unwed is stated?

    Government stats? From what government source — it's not mentioned. And if the 72% is accurate then what is the socio-economic breakdown of that 72%?

    I don't doubt there are too many unwed Black mothers because "observational statistics" affirms that. But the same goes for White females who "supposedly" should know better because of their relatively priveledged upbringing as compared the Black females. But hey are popping unwed babies like tic-tacs. And many of them are the ones we worship on the magazine covers. Give me a statistic on THEM!

    Unwed births is a product of the swift and all encompassing decline in Western values and morals. Not just Black people. As Black Americans we inherited our moral baseline from Westerners (whites). Give me a USABLE statistic like — of that 72%, those that were drug users, on welfare, uneducated and making under $15K per year comprised 15% , etc. We are so trained to believe and embrace the most negative views of each other.

  • Thebossieone

    Wow, I had know idea that the stats were that high. African Americans really need to get it together. I'm utterly embarassed. This is so far from my reality that I'm flabergasted. I'm a single black woman by choice & dating. I come from a legacy of married family members. My parents have been married for 50 yrs. My grand parents were married 67 yrs. until both died 1 wk apart. My uncles & aunts are married to there spouses for over 5o yrs. This information really devastate me. Come on Black families let's get it together.

  • kasxyz

    ummm what do you think?