In 1965, Daniel Patrick Moynihan published his report for the U.S. Department of Labor, “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action.”
Moynihan wanted to shed light on the deep-seated roots of Black poverty for leaders to address those needs. Racial discrimination was very prominent at the time, and the Black family, according to the report, was falling behind in various economic metrics, after making gains in the previous decade.
By the early 1960s, Black single-parent families were increasing. Moynihan cited a mixture of pathologies, including school failure, crime and joblessness, that characterized the behavior.
President Lyndon Johnson agreed with the report, saying, “When the family collapses, it is the children that are usually damaged.”
However, after various groups became critical of the report’s intentions, the president quietly let the issue pass. These organizations viewed institutions that needed change, not the single-parent family.
Over the next few years, other groups questioned the importance of the two-parent household. Ironically, most of these people were raised with both parents themselves.
Today, about 70% of Black children are born to unmarried mothers, as opposed to about 25% in 1965 when Moynihan raised his hand.
We failed to act 56 years ago when we had the chance. Our leaders and our communities need to heed the importance of family for the sake of the children.
Kevin Landry, Lewiston
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