An Analysis of the Life of African American Family

African Family Study - African American Family
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African Family Study - African American Family
1 What Are The Underlying Issues In Welfare Reform?
The key issues that plagued the welfare reform were the management issues since. For the nine turbulent years of its existence, the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) had management wrangles that threatened to derail its course. One of the critical things that plagued the organizations was that white men headed them while the membership was over 98% black women. George Wiley was an associate director who steered the organization for nine turbulent years. Most of the issues that plague the organization could be traced to Wiley. For example, he was not a competent leader, and he had no prior experience in leading a welfare organization, yet he was at the helm of the organization. Wiley was previously a former chemistry professor at Syracuse University who had resigned his position to become active in the civil rights movement (pg.13).
Secondly, unending leadership wrangles were opposing Wiley's leadership. For example, the members noted that Wiley had appointed a predominantly white top leadership team in the organization, which was mostly black. The author notes that 'the ratio of whites to blacks tipped in favor of whites' (pg.14).' Tilmon questioned the right of a white male who had never received welfare to assume leadership in a movement of welfare mothers (pg.13). Tilmon was a single mother who had been a beneficiary of the system and had headed another charity organization, Aid to Needy Children. On book, she would have been a better leader than Wiley. Additionally, black women's goals and objectives were divergent from Wiley's vision who believed in an integrationist approach. Ultimately, these issues plagued the welfare organization and eventually culminated in its failure.
2 Are African American mothers willing to work?
African mothers are willing to work, but some are not working because of sociopolitical and cultural issues that discriminate against them. Franklin and James note that some of the public perceptions of black women have denied them opportunities to succeed. For example, Franklin and James note that public impressions of African Americans were largely shaped by television and other forms of media (pg.2). These perceptions have been perpetuated by media and put black American mothers at a disadvantage when seeking work. They are not necessarily avoiding work, but they lack opportunities.
The African American mothers who have had opportunities to work often get discrimination against at the workplace. The employers fail to treat them according to merit, putting them in a disadvantaged position at the workplace. The white women with the same qualification are more privileged and often receive more opportunities. Such situations discourage African American mothers who are willing to work since they continue receiving lower workplace benefits. There are schemes at the labor market that aim to improve the welfare of workers continuously, but these schemes, in most cases, fail to favor African American mothers. The author notes that the increase in the earnings of southern black women, however, was much smaller, from 45 to 55 percent of white women's wages (pg.2). Unemployment rates for blacks were related to the movement of the economy away from manufacturing and toward highly divergent services industries that are stratified by education, a trend that was occurring most dramatically within formerly industrial urban centers.
3 What do we do about the most disadvantaged black mothers?
There is yet hope for the disadvantaged black since many measures exist that can improve the quality of life and increase the chances of upward mobility. The population of black mothers in the country is crucial, and therefore they should not be disregarded. One way of improving the lives of disadvantaged mothers is boosting the minimum wage, which is a policy that has the potential to reduce poverty significantly. Economic results such as average earnings are improved by raising the minimum wage, especially for the black mothers in the rural regions.
Secondly, there has to be a greater focus on unions where the women in the disadvantaged group should be encouraged to join. The manufacturing sector is one of the largest employers of middle-class citizens, especially black women and therefore, union involvement is one of the crucial factors. In most cases, union involvement has proven a means of raising wages and providing benefits. For black mothers in the labor market, increasing union presence and enhancing worker power, in general, can contribute to positive income development.
Lastly, reducing structural impediments to voting would be another measure that can significantly influence the prospects of black mothers. The opportunity to improve results for these areas will require responsive representation in the statehouses and would diminish the antipathy toward anti-poverty programs and allow for greater economic mobility in the future. It is the right of every individual in society to have equal opportunities despite their skin color. Black mothers should be given equal opportunities as whites in society and at workplaces.
4. What can be done to break the cycle of poverty?
As a result of a lack of resources, poverty has become a vicious cycle, and find sustainable solutions, several issues affecting the community should be handled. When a child is born into a low-income family, the poverty cycle begins, and as a result, many families are caught in a cycle of poverty since they have few or no means to generate chances for themselves. One way of alleviating poverty is to ensure that children receive an adequate education. A good education system can open opportunities to the future for every individual. Individuals who fail to attend school, especially girls, are often exploited and married off at a young age. As a result, their future is limited, and the cycle of poverty is perpetuated from generation to generation.
More focus should be put on improving the economic well-being of individual households, thereby helping to break the poverty cycle. Small business owners that have...