African American Single Mothers Understanding Their Lives and Families [Paperback]

The African American single-parent family has tended to be a scapegoat for a variety of social problems, ranging from poverty to drug abuse. As a result, there exists much misinformation about this family form. In this collection, the African American matriarchal family is re-evaluated to present a more informed picture of its actual structure and functioning.

From an Afrocentric feminist perspective, contributors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images and religious values of these families. The roles of children, grandparents, fathers, other support figures and the government are reviewed. This insider view of these households concludes with suggestions of more effective and sensitive policy approaches to this tThe African American single-parent family has tended to be a scapegoat for a variety of social problems, ranging from poverty to drug abuse. As a result, there exists much misinformation about this family form. In this collection, the African American matriarchal family is re-evaluated to present a more informed picture of its actual structure and functioning.

From an Afrocentric feminist perspective, contributors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images and religious values of these families. The roles of children, grandparents, fathers, other support figures and the government are reviewed. This insider view of these households concludes with suggestions of more effective and sensitive policy approaches to this tIntroduction - Bette J Dickerson
Centering Studies of African American Single Mothers and Their Families - Bette J Dickerson
Female-Headed Households in Sociohistorical Perspective - Norma J Burgess
Women's Life-Affirming Morals and the Cultural Unity of African Peoples - Annie Ruth Leslie
Teenaged Mothers - Sharon Elise
A Sense of Self
Single Parenting - Dhyana Ziegler
A VilÓB