Black Family Crisis: Historical Perspective

The "Moynihan Report," a 1965 analysis by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, warned of the crumbling black family structure in urban America. He highlighted that government welfare policies were undermining family roles, and the shift in norms was causing societal damage. Today, these issues persist as nonmarital birth rates have soared to 70% among black children, compared to 25% during his report. Community leaders rally for change, invoking Booker T. Washington's self-reliance ethos, aiming to rebuild the family unit amidst alarming trends.