Ten years ago, African Americans had the lowest marriage rate of any racial group in the United States. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 43.3 percent of black men and 41.9 percent of black women in America have never been married. Over the past 30 years the overall marriage rate in the United States declined by 17 percent, but for African Americans, it fell by 34 percent.
It is estimated that 80 percent of all African-American children will spend their childhood living apart from their fathers, while an estimated 70 percent of African-American children are born to unmarried mothers. This national problem is replicated in every state in the nation. Certain urban centers, such as St. Louis, document a need for assistance far greater than other areas.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the former U.S. senator from New York, worked as a social scientist under the Johnson administration at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Policy Planning and Research. In 1965 he issued a controversial report entitled “The Negro Family: the Case for National Action.” He concluded that the African-American family structure in urban America was crumbling because of multiple integrated factors: the lingering impact of slavery, white racism and structural discrimination that have led to the emergence of a “tangle of pathology.”
The leading characterization of this “tangle of pathology” was the high rate of poverty, high crime rate, low educational achievement, high rate of births out of wedlock, unemployment, juvenile delinquency and the growing rate of female-headed households. Moynihan’s harshest critique was centered on the disproportionate rise of female headed households.
Moynihan called for the federal government’s intervention on a massive level. He argued that if the current so-called tangle of pathology persists, using 1965 standards, “by the end of the 20th century the African-American family structure would be in a state of fatal deterioration, if not total destruction.” In 1965, only 25 percent of black families were headed by females. Today, the percentage has increased to over 70 percent. If family structures are to be resurrected, the institution of marriage must play a vital role.
This challenge of creating sustainable marriages is why Better Family Life takes great pride in hosting the 5th Annual Healthy Marriage Retreat at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, 10330 Natural Bridge Rd., on March 25-26. We are also proud to have been on this journey with our faith-based partner A New Cornerstone and our community-based partner The Fathers Support Center, for the past five years.
The Healthy Marriage Retreat starts with a banquet on Friday evening, March 25. This year we welcome keynote speaker the Rev. Michael Jones, senior pastor and spiritual leader of Friendly Temple Baptist Church. I urge everyone to listen to his words of wisdom.
I also encourage the community to take full advantage of the workshops that will be presented throughout the day on Saturday, March 26. Our challenge is formidable, for we must prove the fallacy of Moynihan’s prediction! By working together, we can create and sustain the movement of building healthy relationships that will lead to lasting marriages and stronger families.
For a complete schedule and ticket information, please visit www.betterfamilylife.org or call 314-454-0622.
Ahmed is CEO of Better Family Life, Inc.