Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A Local Story to Me...

You can read the story here in the Memphis Commercial Appeal but the summary conclusions are shocking, indeed.  Of the 167,968 children under 18 years of age in the city, 56,158, or 33.4 percent, are being raised in a "husband-wife family," according to data from the 2010 Census released last week. A far greater number -- 77,338, or 46 percent -- reside in single-parent households, while 30,854 others are being raised by grandparents or other relatives.

Or, let me put it another way.  Of 167,968 children, about 100,000 are not living in a home with their father present. Whether this statistic may be skewed due to its urban setting, the local nature of things in Memphis, the overall decline in the family, even the situation in Black families -- well, it really does not matter.  We are left with the situation in which the vast majority of the children in Memphis (and where else, we might wonder) have no significant father figure in their lives.  More than 5 of every 8 children, 63%, have no father present in the home.  Unless we are blind to shocking statistics like this, we face a situation in which the heart and soul of the family in America is under severe stress and the place where it shows most of all is in the children.

But lets forget the statistics.  You must know at least 8 children.  Now imagine 5 of them -- you pick out which ones - have no father at home -- not their biological father, not the husband of their mother...  You take a look into the faces of the children you know and imagine how that impacts their lives and how it will impact the lives of their children...

What a bold challenge to a faith in which we are taught to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven..."
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3 comments:

  1. SueAugust 31, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    This is personal in my house - my husband left me when my children were 7 and 4. I raised them alone. They are now 32 and 29. My older son is married and father to an 11 mo. old boy. He is already a much better father than his own ever dreamed of being. And I know he'll be a better grandfather and not pull the stunts his father is regarding that sweet baby.

    It is the toughest job there is - raising your children alone. I had my mother nearby to pitch in during emergencies, thank goodness. I do NOT understand why women purposely have children with no husband in the house.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    One of the reasons for the high
    single mom population in our inner
    cities is the federal government
    program: Aid to Dependent Children

    This encourages the father to leave
    home so the mother can get the money.
    This is usually more money than the
    father has and who is usually not
    employed. This is a racket for
    some women who have many children
    but no father in the home.

    ReplyDelete
  3. evcSeptember 1, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    Saw this story, sorta related

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830102551.htm

    ReplyDelete