King Criticizes the Modern Black Family

Colbert King wrote a column in the Washington Post this week called "Why I'm Not Celebrating Black History" listing his opposition to Black History Month. He says during the month of February we look back to the great men and women of the past and while "we ignore the calamity in our midst" the disintegration of the black family. King turns to an issue that many people do not discuss. He blames the problems of African Americans which include poverty, crime, child abuse, and dropping out of high school on the broken families which they come from. In 1950, nearly 80% of black families had two parents...today only 38% do. That means the majority are growing up with struggling single mothers. Young African Americans who grow up with a father are a minority today. King claims that broken families lead the boys to turn to crime, which leaves them in jail or dead, and causes the girls to turn to sex and end up pregnant. This is a vicious cycle that keeps on going. King says only African Americans can stop this cycle and stop "the dysfunction unfolding before our eyes".

I agree with King's argument to an extent. It is wrong that so many African American children are growing up without fathers. It is true that broken families often lead children to make the wrong choices and find comfort in vices such as drugs, sex, and crime but I think King was a little harsh in his column criticizing the black family. He said he does not even recognize Black History Month because he believes African Americans have too many problems to even focus on anything else. Yes, there are issues within the black family and community that need to be dealt with but solely focusing on their problems will not help. The men and women commemorated during Black History month can serve as an inspiration to young black children. These leaders often dealt with the same issues and obstacles modern African American children do. By learning about these role models, children can see that they can break the vicious cycle King says they are stuck in. The key to breaking this cycle is education and positive outlets for their anger and stress. Black History Month gives young children a role model even a father figure that they have never had and if they learn about that individual's story they will realize that they can become a role model to others themselves. This is the purpose of Black History Month Mr. King.