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"Happy Father's Day to those rare Black fathers that are actually involved with their kids. Too many Black fathers just abandon their kids." 
Except... All the data shows that Black American fathers are *more* involved parents than Americans of other races.
Except... All the data shows that Black American fathers are *more* involved parents than Americans of other races.
"
I... didn't know that. OK fine! When Black dads are present, they're involved. But too many Black dads are just not there! Why aren't they there?"
In the US, a Black man has a 1 in 4 chance of going to jail. Most likely for drug use, even though White folk do more drugs.
I... didn't know that. OK fine! When Black dads are present, they're involved. But too many Black dads are just not there! Why aren't they there?"In the US, a Black man has a 1 in 4 chance of going to jail. Most likely for drug use, even though White folk do more drugs.
Most Black dads incarcerated have not even been convicted of any crime. They're awaiting trial, and are too poor to afford bail. You can be waiting for trial for *years*.
Just being arrested will likely cause you to lose your job, and can prevent you from applying for a new one.
Just being arrested will likely cause you to lose your job, and can prevent you from applying for a new one.
The mother of your child will likely need to apply for public assistance while you are locked up. The state will give her assistance... and then bill you.
You will rack up debt to the state while you are in jail. You will be in "child support arrears." https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/04/10/why-was-walter-scott-running
You will rack up debt to the state while you are in jail. You will be in "child support arrears." https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/04/10/why-was-walter-scott-running
Even if you are innocent, you've just gone from being an employed, present Black dad...
To a dead beat dad, with warrants for his arrest for failure to pay child support, who can't even apply for many jobs due to the first arrest...
To a dead beat dad, with warrants for his arrest for failure to pay child support, who can't even apply for many jobs due to the first arrest...
If your definition of "stability in the household" revolves around marital status or cohabitation, rather than this systemic racism minefield presented to the parents, I urge you to reflect on that.
I mean, half of y'all's parents are divorced.
That's not the issue.
I mean, half of y'all's parents are divorced.
That's not the issue.
Another comparison is White Europeans, who don't face this racism minefield.
4 out of 10 EU kids are born to unmarried parents. In France, closer to 6 / 10. Lower the marriage rate, the more men participate in childcare!
We call them "progressive."
https://www.statista.com/statistics/276802/births-out-of-wedlock-in-the-eu/
4 out of 10 EU kids are born to unmarried parents. In France, closer to 6 / 10. Lower the marriage rate, the more men participate in childcare!
We call them "progressive."
https://www.statista.com/statistics/276802/births-out-of-wedlock-in-the-eu/
The "absent Black dad" trope is a racist inversion of responsibility. It's an attempt to put the blame for the pain suffered by the Black community, onto the very people that suffer from it most: young Black folk.
It only takes a few anecdotes for the bias confirmation to work.
It only takes a few anecdotes for the bias confirmation to work.
