Quote:
One of the most enduring effects of slavery is the fracturing of the black families. This was a deliberate action performed to prevent any bonds or relationships forming that could pose a threat to the sole authority of the slave master. The presence of an authority figure in the role of a father could undermine the authority of a slave master in the eyes of children. To combat this, families were consistently broken up and scattered, often with every member of a family sent in different directions. The hope was there would never be strong enough bonds developed that could challenge the master.
I'd go into all the citations, but this is a pub discussion where that sort of google-mastery is frowned upon.
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I've stayed out of the root-of-the-problem discussion thus far, but I have to point out the incorrect nature of this.
Look up the Harlem Renaissance. Look up the development of black culture throughout the first half of the 20th Century and you will see strong households with strong parental influences. Black schools which looked inward to help develop new talent leading to such greats as George Washington Carver and Dr. Williams. Black doctors who specialized in medication in the ghettos, black teachers inspiring their own to overcome and persevere.
Somewhere along the line the family structure broke down. It was not due to slavery, and the oppression during the equality movements only seemed to strengthen it. Somewhere it broke down, and to be honest I can't figure out what.