Stone Center. "Are Single Mothers to Blame for Racial Inequality in Poverty? A Study Looks at the Impact of Structural Racism." Stone Center, 10/24/2023

https://stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/are-single-mothers-to-blame-for-racial-inequality-in-poverty-a-study-looks-at-the-impact-of-structural-racism/

The article talks about why some Black families are poorer than white families. People usually think it's because more Black families are led by single mothers. But the authors, Regina S. Baker and Heather A. O’Connell, say it's not that simple. They studied how two things, family structure (like being a single mother or having married parents) and structural racism (deep-rooted unfairness in society), work together to affect poverty. They used the history of slavery as a way to understand structural racism and focused on the Southern U.S. where slavery was high. They found something surprising. Even in families where parents are married, Black families still face more poverty than white families. The study suggests that the impact of unfairness in society is stronger in these married-parent families than in families led by single mothers.

The authors think this might be connected to the harsh history of slavery, especially its links to the legal system. This could mean that the economic struggles faced by families, especially single mothers, are similar, regardless of race. The study challenges the idea that getting married protects people from being poor. It shows that for white families, marriage brings more financial benefits. However, for Black families, the historical legacy of slavery can make things even harder for them, even in married-parent families. From my perspective, this study makes me think about how complex these issues are. It suggests that just looking at family structures isn't enough to understand why some families are poor. It pushes for a change in focus – instead of just saying marriage will solve everything, we need to deal with the deep-rooted unfairness that affects families differently based on their race. It makes me rethink what we need to do to really address inequality in poverty.

Ian Rowe and Brad Wilcox "Single moms are great, but kids with two parents do even better." USA Today, 17 June 2021, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/06/17/single-moms-great-families-dads-better/7705997002/

The article discusses the shift in societal views on family structure, particularly the acknowledgment of the importance of strong and stable families for children. It highlights the apparent end of culture wars in the 21st century regarding single parenthood, marriage, and the role of fathers. The author refers to a 2015 report from scholars at Brookings and Princeton, stating that "most scholars now agree that children raised by two biological parents in a stable marriage do better than children in other family forms across a wide range of outcomes."

The author also references Barack Obama's emphasis on the value of fathers for children and his personal commitment to breaking the cycle of fatherlessness. The mention of Obama's speeches adds a personal touch to the discussion, showing a prominent figure's understanding of the importance of fathers in family life. However, the article critiques a Harvard research effort that questions the idea that married, two-parent families matter for all children, not just Black children. The sociologist Pamela Braboy Jackson is quoted as saying, "All of our research points to the fact that it’s the quality of the relationship that matters, and the handling of communication and conflict, and the number of people in the household is not really the key" for the welfare of children. The author challenges this perspective, arguing that such a revisionist effort obscures the full truth about the importance of two-parent families for children.

In my view, this article underscores the ongoing debate about family structure and its impact on children. The author's inclusion of Barack Obama's personal reflections adds a relatable aspect to the discussion. While the critique of the Harvard research offers a counterpoint, I find it essential to consider both perspectives in understanding the nuanced dynamics of family influence on child welfare. It prompts me to reflect on the complexity of the issue and the need for a balanced approach in acknowledging the diverse factors contributing to children's well-being.

Bradford Wilcox. "Less Poverty, Less Prison, More College: What Two Parents Mean for Black and White Children." Institute for Family Studies, June 17, 2021, https://ifstudies.org/blog/less-poverty-less-prison-more-college-what-two-parents-mean-for-black-and-white-children.

In W. Bradford Wilcox's article, "Less Poverty, Less Prison, More College: What Two Parents Mean for Black and White Children," the discussion centers on the prevailing idea that children raised by both biological parents tend to fare better on average than those brought up by a single parent, a notion rooted in Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur's 1992 book. This perspective, widely accepted in the past and supported by scholars like Paul Amato and Isabel Sawhill, is now being challenged, notably by Christina Cross at Harvard. Cross's argument raises a critical point about the potential differential impact of family structure on educational outcomes for black and white youths, challenging the universal benefit assumption for all children in intact, two-parent families. The research questions whether black children experience better outcomes in such family setups compared to single-parent or stepfamily arrangements, using data on child poverty, college graduation, and incarceration rates. By challenging conventional beliefs, this study aims to offer a nuanced understanding of how family structure may influence the well-being of black children, prompting a reevaluation of commonly held assumptions. The passage introduces the conventional belief, challenges it, and outlines a research study investigating the link between family structure and outcomes for black children, emphasizing the importance of considering diverse perspectives in understanding the impact of family structure on children's well-being (Wilcox, 2021).