The Endangered Black Family and Our Endangered Culture

Bill Cosby and Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint courageously documented a social tragedy that has concerned social scientists for decades - the breakdown of the black family. In their book, Come On People: On the Path From Victims to Victors, they outline the problem and plead for change.
They conclude: "No more excuses, no more delays. Come on people!" 1.

Breakdown of marriage

In the 1950's, black and white marriage patterns were much alike.
* In 1960, 66% of all black women aged 30-34 were married.
* By 1990, the figure had dropped to 39%. 2.
* Divorce and separation rates for blacks are now 50% higher than for whites. 3.
* In 1950, five out of six black children were born into a two-parent home.
* Now 70% of black children are born outside of marriage. 4.


Consequences of fatherlessness

Fatherhood is the most socializing and civilizing role for men; however, many black men are caught in the cultural demand to 'be cool' and emotionally detached. 5.

The hard truth is that most social problems are the direct consequences of fatherless households.

Children born to unwed mothers are ten times more likely to live in poverty.

Sobering federal statistics report that children from fatherless homes include: 6.
* 63% of teen suicides
* 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions
* 71% of high-school dropouts
* 75% of children in chemical-abuse centers
* 80% of youth in prison
* 85% of children with behavioral disorders
* 90% of homeless and runaway children

The black high school drop-out rate is greater than 50% in many cities, with male drop-out rate higher than female. 7.


Black crime rates

* Close to half of the prison population (now about 2.2 million) are African-American. 8.
* African-Americans are 12% of the population but represent 56% of those arrested for murder and 50% of those arrested for forcible rape and violent crimes.
* Black against black homicide is the leading cause of death among black men ages 16-34.
* One out of every 21 young black men is murdered.
* 32% of all black males ages 20-29 are in jail, prison or on probation or parole. 9.


Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's)

* In March, 2008 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly 50% of black teens had an STD, while 20% of white and Hispanic teens were so affected. 10.

* Black homosexual relationships have led to tragic consequences.
Male-to-male sexual contact (MSM) is the primary cause of HIV/AIDS transmission.
In 2005, AIDS cases in the U.S. for Blacks (20,187) exceeded the number for Whites, Hispanics, Asians and American Indians. combined (19,939). 11.

* Bisexual and heterosexual relationships spread the HIV virus to black women and children. In 2004, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for African-American women aged 35-44. 12.



Black role models

The media has elevated black role models who disdain responsible sexual relationships and marriage.

Black male rappers, particularly gangsta rappers, have churned out a hip, bold, profane style with antisocial, angry, women-hating messages. 13 Success is measured by having as much money and sex as possible. Women are seen as bitches and hos and men as pimps.

In February of 2008, the Bad Boy Entertainment founder, Sean (Puff Daddy) Combs is quoted as saying, "I'm cool, man... I've never been married, never been engaged." Combs has fathered 6 children by 3 different women. 14.

The pop singer, Beyonce, is expanding her house of fashion design to sell a line of clothes to children. Ads present 7 year old girls dressed in bling, leather, lipstick, and heels, seductively
posed to look like tarts. 15.

As the media promote sexuality and pornography, Pimp and Ho Parties are now being promoted as the 'in' way to have fun. 16.


Grief and Frustration

It is with grief and frustration that I consider these tragic statistics because statistics are not numbers. They represent human lives, hurting and failing to reach potential.

In August of 1963, my husband and I lived outside Washington DC. On August 28, a carload from our (white, suburban) church went to the Washington Mall to join the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. We stood with 200,000 people as Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. We affirmed his concern that people be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Schools, colleges and universities have opened doors of opportunity to blacks and all Americans. Government and charitable organizations have provided assistance for food, clothing and housing for those needing a hand up.


From Victim to Responsible Citizen

I join the cry of Bill Cosby and Alvin Poussaint when they say,

"No more excuses, no more delays. Come on people!

I add the call to move from victims to responsible citizens!



References

1. Cosby, Bill and Alvin F. Poussaint, MD. Come On People - on the Path From Victims to Victors. Thomas Nelson. Nashville. 2007.
2. Palen, J. John. Social Problems for the Twenty-First Century. McGraw Hill Pub. 2001:291.
3. Cosby, pg. 17.
4. Cosby, pgs. 2,14.
5. Cosby, pg. 11
6. Alexander, Mark M. "Fatherless in America." June 17,2005. www.townhall.com/Common.
7. Cosby, pg. 108.
8. Cosby, pg. 192.
9. Palen, pgs. 342,243.
10. The Associated Press. March 11, 2008. "1 in 4 teen girls has at least one STD". http://www.msnbc.com/id/23574940.
11. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/print/basic.htm. 9/8/2007.
12. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets. Revised June 2007.
13. Cosby, pgs. 12,16,119.
14. Brady, James. "In Step with Sean Combs." Parade Magazine. February 24, 2008. page 26.
15. www.parentdish.com/2008/05/12/beyonce-sexing-up-childresn-clothing.
16. www.ehow.com/how_2067020-throw-pimp-ho-party.html.

The Con in Condom: Safe Sex!

SAFE. 1. Free from harm or risk, unhurt
2. Secure from threat of danger, harm or loss
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh edition (2007) Pg. 1095

In the last 30 years condoms have claimed to be the savior of sexuality by providing safe sex or safer sex. Condoms are being sold and distributed around the world as the solution to casual sexual behaviors in preventing pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Really!

What are the odds?

In best case scenarios of condom use, approximately 3% of couples who used condoms consistently and correctly experience an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. 1.
However, consistent and correct use does not represent typical use of condoms.

Consistency is defined as using a condom at every act of sexual intercourse. Correct use means "using undamaged, unexpired condoms, using only water-based lubricants, careful opening of the package, correct placement and use throughout intercourse, and correct removal of the condom after ejaculation." 2.

Typical condom use is more accurately represented by a failure rate of 14%, accounting for inconsistent and incorrect use as well as breakage and slippage. Use factors such as experience, condom size and use of lubricant can affect slippage and breakage. 3.

A study involving 26,291 homosexual men, heterosexual men and heterosexual women who visited the University of Colorado's clinic in Denver over a two year period reported that 57% of the women, 48% of the heterosexual men and 33% of the homosexual men reported condom error. 4

Efficacy rates for condom use is generally reported for pregnancy. However, rates for sexually transmitted diseases vary by disease.

Condoms do not prevent transmission of the human papillomavirus, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. 5.

Condoms may reduce risk of HIV infection by approximately 69%. 6.

Between The Lines, Michigan's statewide gay newspaper, reports that the risk of anal cancer increases by nearly 4,000% for men who have sex with men. They state that a condom only offers limited protection against developing anal cancer." 7.


HIGH ODDS OF 'ACCIDENT'

What do these efficacy rates mean in terms of human numbers?

Would you get into an automobile or a plane with these odds??????

Suppose, for example, that 20 million people used condoms for 'protection'.
By the best case of 3% failure rate, 600,000 people will experience failure.

How can we envision the immensity of this number? A typical arena for an NBA game holds about 20,000 people. It would take 30 arenas filled to capacity to hold the people in this sample of 20 million who failed to be 'safe' using a condom.

By the typical use rate of 14% failure, 2,800,000 people will be 'unpleasantly surprised'.

That's TWO MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND! Now we're talking about 140 arenas of 20,000 people.


SEDUCTION OF THE YOUNG

Many of us remember when sex was treated with respect and awe because it was the behavior that created new life.
Sex was treated with concern because of the serious diseases that were spread through this behavior.
Sex was not a toy to be experimented with and played with by children.
Sexuality was a sacred behavior to be saved and 'kept safe' for marriage and family.

However, in the last 30 years sexual behavior has been 'sold' to the young as a choice or an option of behavior. Condom companies have introduced their products within the school system with instructions as to its use.

In November of 1991, the New York City high schools inaugurated the first large-scale condom distribution program in the nation. Under a cloak of secrecy, condoms were made available to students, even if their parents objected. 8.

Donated by Carter-Wallace, maker of the Trojan brand of condom, and Schmid Laboratories, the maker of Ramses, 500 or 1,000 boxes of condoms were delivered to each school. A pamphlet explaining how to use the condom was included and teachers also provided instruction. Teachers were taught how to avoid discouraging students who wanted a condom, while reminding them that 'abstinence is a viable option'. 9.

By 1997, 418 public schools made condoms available to students. 10.

Now condoms come in different colors and different flavors!
Young people have been drawn into early and promiscuous sexual relationships.

In March of 2008, researchers at the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 1 in 4 teen girls has at least one sexually transmitted disease. 11.
The virus that causes cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus, was the most common. Chlamydia, the second most common, is usually without symptoms and can cause infertility.

"America has the highest teen pregnancy rate for developed countries in the world, and has one of the highest teen STD rates as well...in recent years, 65% of STD infections were in people under the age of 24, and one out of four HIV infections were in people under the age of 22." 12.


STRAIGHT TALK

Let's talk straight to the children and youth. Let's tell it like it is.

It is the place of the public schools to teach the truth about behaviors to it's students.
It's the place of the schools to teach young people self-respect, self-control, and self-discipline rather than careless indulgence of sexual behaviors.

Abstinence is the only sure defense against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Sexuality should be returned to the safety of marriage relationships, not handed to children as lollipops.


References:

1. Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitteds Disease (STD) Prevention. June 12-13,
2000. Hyatt Dulles Airport. Herndon, Virginia. Page 10.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institute of Health, Dept. of Health and Human Services.July, 20, 2001.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about condoms and their use in prevcnting HIV infections and other STDs . CDC
HIV/AIDS Prevention: July 1993:1-3.
3. Workshop Summary: (see above) Page 10.
4. Condom Use and the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Dieseases. April 19th, 2008.
http://www.condomman.com/articles/index.php?tag=rising-std-rates.
5. Condoms' Effectiveness in Preventing Pregnancy, Std's at Center of Debate on Revising Package Labels. The Media Project. June
30,2005. http://www.themediaproject.com/news/itn/063005.htm.
6. Weller, SC. "A meta-analysis of condom effectiveness in reducing sexually transmitted HIV." Soc Sci Med. 1993 Jun:36(12):1635-44.
Comment in Soc Sci Med. 1994 Apr:38(8): 1169-70.
7. Glenn, Gary. "Compassionate Society Should Discourage Deadly Homosexual Behavior." American Family Association.
March 19, 2001. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1039280/posts.
8. Berger, Joseph. "Start of Condom Distribution Fails to Faze Many Students". November 24, 1991. The New York Times.
nytimes.com.
9. Ibid.
10. Advocates for Youth. Unpublished data from the School Condom Availability Clearinghouse. Washington DC: Advocates, 1997.
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsschcon.htm.
11. The Associated Press. Tuesday, March 11, 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23574940/print/1/displaymode/1098.
12. Safe Sex Education in the USA. March 25th, 2008. http://www.condomman.com/articles/index.php?tag=rising-std-rates.