How About Some Good News For A Change?!?

Bad news seems to be a part of life for erryday black people, and when it comes to statistics, we're generally on the ass end of the pyramid. We're besieged with blistering incarceration rates, poor standardized test performance, and poverty numbers. It's enough to make any self respecting black man wanna turn into Mister White.[1] Permanently.

Here's today's AverageSoundtrack&trade. I personally hate Jagged Edge, but couldn't think of anything more relevant.



That said, we here at AB.com try to do our best to spread good news when it hits. For all those who say two parent households are a thing of the past, peep this.

Experts say they’re encouraged by U.S. Census statistics indicating more black children are living with two parents, the number rising to 40 percent in 2007.

The number of black children in two-parent households, which stood at 59 percent in 1970, had fallen as low as 35 percent in 2004, U.S. Census Bureau figures estimate. While social scientists say they’re divided over what the statistical rebound means and are voicing skepticism about an increase so large, others say the shift is potentially significant, The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) reported Wednesday.

“It’s a positive change,” said Robert Sampson, chairman of Harvard’s sociology department, adding, “It’s been hidden.”

Andrew Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University, pointed out that before 2007 a child living with two unmarried parents was usually classified as living with either a mother or a father, rather than with two parents as is now the case.

“I think the news is that the Census Bureau estimates that about 3 percent of American children are living with two unmarried parents,” he said. “Because of the increases in living-together relationships, this is probably a higher figure than a generation ago.”

Yeah, I know, 40% isn't great, but don't miss the forest for the trees. That number has jumped an astounding 5% since as recently as 2004. Again, do we have a long way to go? Yes. But is all progress some progress? You betcha.

The article doesn't list any definitive reasons for why this trend seems to be occurring. The mild blurb about "classification" might explain some of it, but I'm not going to write this good news off as a mere cooking of the books.

I'm an advocate for two parent households. Yes, single moms can get the job done if need be, but I just don't think there's a better arrangement financially, emotionally, and educationally than a healthy two parent household. The keyword, of course, is healthy.

Now if we could just work on that healthy marriage thing...

Question: Why aren't more black people getting married or at least co-habitating for the sake of the children?

More black children live with two parents [United Press Int'l]

[1] Wow, SNL actually used to be funny. Those were the days.