Is Spanking in Our Community a Residual Effect of Slavery?

November 11th, 2011 - By Brande Victorian

A new study has confirmed what black people always joke about when it comes to raising our kids: we will spank that behind. A new study from the University of Texas at Austin shows that 89% of African Americans spank their children and are more likely to whip, paddle, and use other physical punishments for discipline.

Black parents aren’t really much further ahead of other ethnic groups in terms of their use of corporal punishment. Numbers from the study show that 80% of Hispanic parents, 79% of Caucasian parents, and 73% of Asian parents have spanked their kids. Still, a host of explanations has been offered as to why this practice is more common among black parents, including the idea that spanking is a tradition “left by the brutality of slavery,” according to a CNN report. Other experts say spanking among black parents is rooted in fear that their child may become disobedient. Data suggesting lower income and less educated black people are more likely to physically punish their children serves to paint a very clear picture of how this practice is viewed by non-African Americans.

Some say there is a fine line between beating and spanking a child, but I think the distinction is quite clear. To propose that black parents spank because they were exposed to beatings as slaves and passed down the tradition, suggests that black parents are regularly beating their children and I don’t believe that to be the case. The mention of poor and uneducated African Americans resorting to spanking also draws images of inarticulate parents who aren’t able to verbally instruct their children without laying hands on them.

If black parents are using physical punishment because somewhere in their lineage an ancestor was whipped, I need to know why significantly more than half of Hispanic, Caucasian, and Asian parents also use corporal punishment as part of their parenting strategy. It’s unfair to frame this practice among the black community under the guise of a history of societal oppression. Just because in this day and age parents come under harsh scrutiny for merely popping a child’s hand in the grocery store doesn’t mean we need to look at spanking as a black issue that needs to be fixed. The focus on black parents appears to be just another way to scapegoat us as violent people.

Do you think it’s fair to suggest black parents spank their children more because of the scars of slavery? If so, what is the driving force behind Hispanic, Caucasian, and Asian parents’ use of corporal punishment?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

 

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  • swaggirl

    spanking children is the best thing you can do. if you don’t spank your children they will be out of control

  • philadra

    Its my observation, that African American parents do resort to the belt more often than other groups do. I’ve heard the theory before that it all relates back to being slavery. I don’t know whether its true for some African Americans or not. I think spanking can be an effective discipline tool and it was for me, at times, as a mother. I raised two sons and a daughter by myself after I was divorced. If you’re spanking or whooping your kids all the time, than your using spanking incorrectly. If you reserve it more major violations and the kids understand that, it can be very effective. I generally spanked with my hand. I did use a belt once on both of my sons (different situations). I generally found that what worked the best was to have a talk with my kids first about what they had done and make it clear how seriously the offense was. I would usually than make them take their pants off. They learned pretty quickly that being spanked in their underwear was something they wanted to avoid. I think the total number of times I spanked all 3 of my kids was less than the fingers on both my hands.

    • swaggirl

      can i watch it

  • Experienced Parent

    Several years ago, a concerned young black mother and public educator asked me if white people ever spanked their children. I assured her that we did. I also pointed out that the principal difference between black and white attitudes toward spanking is primarily linked to a statistical cohort of college educated white mothers inclined to believe spanking to be passe. Once this group is removed from the statistical sampling, ethnic differences in attitudes toward spanking greatly diminish. Another difference is that, in many instances, the white community is less open, sometimes even dishonest, about when and how they spank. Thus, while a white mother may oppose spanking in theory, she may still paddle her potty mouth teenage daughter and act like it never happened.

  • Tony77

    It’s not that African American parents hit there children more, they do it in a VERY BRUTAL MANNER!!! The same goes for white trash families! So it’s not a race issue, IT IS A LOWER CLASS and LOWER income ISSUE! They’re all pissed off because they made the same bad decisions their parents made and have no hope of breaking the cycle!

  • KingTKW

    I will never understand while someone would want to physically harm someone that they supposedly love. Think about how irresponsible that is for a minute. Regardless of what the bible says about hurting your kids, why would you think it is ok to hurt your own child and cause them to fear and resent you every time you do it. I hated to see my dad because I associated him pain and physical and emotional damge. Think about who just exactly you are beating before you beat them. There are better options for discipline.

    • BThePunisher

      You’re absolutely right. And I completely agree with you. Some people just take everything the bible says an follows it without question. Even if its evil or contradictory to other scripture. They just swallow it: hook, line and sinker…especially if it indulges their fleshly urges. Like anger an aggregation- your kid offends you and (depending on your personality) you get angry and want to hit them! Whipping, spanking, slapping- they are all examples of a lack of patience and self discipline! You are not teaching your children anything good or pure by hitting them. Trying to invoke fear is not a good thing. How many people who are whipped grow up and are quick to get agitated and offensive and even rude! How many always revert to violence as an answer! The learned that from being physically punished. When are we going to evolve and understand that raising children requires: Patience, Persistance, Maturity and Wisdom. Striking requires non of that. It’s a quick way to 1. Shut the kid up and 2. Feed your “I’m the boss” ego. That’s what it boils down to, adults need to feel like they have dominance over SOMEthing, and who cannot fight back?! Who cannot defend themselves?! Kids! So they’re the easiest to establish dominance over.

  • Jean_Harlow

    What’s wrong with spankings? I got 3 kids and when they know they’re in the wrong, then my husband and I will spank. Spanking isn’t child abuse, beating and cursing at your child is. Shoot, some of these kids today need an old school spanking. We all have our ways to discipline our kids, we don’t need the government to tell us how to raise our kids.

  • Christian Catlett

    Spankings and Beatings are two different things. You should never beat a child because thats child abuse. I believe children need discipline and if takes a spanking, thats fine. I didn’t get spanked as a child because i was always good. i sat back and watched my brothers get it and i knew that wasn’t for me. what happens when you try to “talk” to a child? Exactly. So I’m all for spanking a child. I’m gonna spank my kids if they ever get out of line 

  • Bianca

    Spankings are needed. Point Blank.

  • Sdennis334

     It’s funny that so many people are against spanking nowadays, saying that it causes kids to be more violent and aggressive….yet children in today’s society are just as, if not more violent and more disrespectful than they’ve ever been. Our country is out of control because we have other people telling us how to raise our kids. Go to third world countries and you will see how respectful children are. How grateful they are to have even the smallest of things. America needs to get it together.

  • Pfeiffer87

    umm no … my parents disciplined me in that way & they’re white & British

  • Georgem

    waaaaaaaa I’m black and always some kind for victim

    • Anonymous

      Go F yourself!

      • georgek

        great response! Georgem is still mired in his own ignorance but you! way to address the issue and demonstrate your own puerile existence. Wise not giving your name.

  • kendra

    Proverbs 22:15: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.”

    Proverbs
    23:13-14: “Withold not discipline from the child, for if you strike and
    punish him with the (reed-like) rod, he will not die. Thou shalt beat
    him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”

  • PearlNoir

    I think spanking should be the last resort for a dire situation like stealing or breaking something after Constantly being told to leave it alone but being spanked for every little thing is abuse. Spanking with implements like electric cords is also abusive. A few spanks here and there with HANDS is enough. I’ve been spanked 5 times in my life-time by my mother only and I’d like to think I turned out a well rounded individual.

  • L-Boogie

    As a former heavy receiver of the belt circuit I think spanking that leads to beating is too much.  However, I know those spankings (aka mini-beatings) kept me from doing some stupid ish.  Thanks, Daddy! LOL!