Black Fathers: The Worse Fathers? Part II

Over 70 percent of black children in America are raised in households where no father is present, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. While last week’s guest, Dr. Nathaniel Wilson attributes this pattern to how African American males have come to define manhood, Dr. William McCloud, author of “Setbacks Create Comebacks,” attributes this to economic disparity. Unemployment among black males is higher than any other population at 14.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor (January 2009). This fact, along with other financial limitations for black males, is the reason that “they are unable” to properly support their families, suggests Dr. McCloud. At age 80, the three-time, Emmy award winner feels he has seen for himself what has caused this shift.