Fatimah Ali: Families matter
AS OUR economy tumbles out of control, it's equally troubling that so many families are falling apart. That dysfunction places a tremendous burden on society, economically and socially. Although experts say that intact families are just one predictor for raising successful children, and healthy kids can emerge from broken homes, children from single-parent households are more at risk for poverty, academic failure, teen pregnancy and incarceration.
AS OUR economy tumbles out of control, it's equally troubling that so many families are falling apart.
That dysfunction places a tremendous burden on society, economically and socially. Although experts say that intact families are just one predictor for raising successful children, and healthy kids can emerge from broken homes, children from single-parent households are more at risk for poverty, academic failure, teen pregnancy and incarceration.
One peek into Family Court at 1801 Vine St. reveals the negative trend that has captured far too many families, especially African-American ones.
To find out what's bothering the troubled young people who pack the court's hearing rooms, we have to look at the parents - particularly those who insist on being at war with each other. We have to reach out and draw them in closer because if we don't, there could be trouble brewing down the road.
President-elect Obama faces incredibly high expectations when he takes office on Jan. 20, and I'm relieved that he's making the bleak economy his No. 1 priority because that focus is long overdue.
He's also setting a fine example for the rest of the nation with how he conducts himself as a husband and a father. One of the many things that helped him win election was his intolerance for drama, which earned him the nickname "No Drama Obama." I'm certain his philosophy also applies to his family, which appears to be harmonious, well-run and disciplined.
Watching Obama, wife Michelle, Sasha and Malia begin their new journey is a joy. Waiting with bated breath for them to start their new life, I'm hopeful they'll also inspire the nation.
The Obamas set a fine example for families, but the president alone can't restore this country or its values. The challenge for each of us is to contribute even more to help him pull the country out of its funk. We can accomplish much if we follow a few simple guidelines:
* Show compassion to all.
* Get straight with God.
* Take charge of our health and make positive lifestyle changes.
* Work harder and give everything our best.
* Keep learning until we go to our graves.
* Learn how to build and keep wealth.
* Get our families in order.
The last theme seems to be out of reach for many Americans, and we're all too often obsessed with other people's failed marriages. Speculation about celebrity divorces floods the pop media culture and is obscenely splashed on the covers of tabloid publications everywhere.
That caught my eye in a bookstore recently, prompting me to examine U.S. marriage and divorce trends. The numbers are staggering - particularly in African-American homes, where well over half the households are headed by single mothers.
I also caught a glimpse of the book by Rev. Run (of Run D.M.C.) and his wife, Justine Simmons, called "Take Back Your Family: A challenge to America's parents."
It's loaded with tips for successful parenting and recommends that couples build their family foundation around their own relationships, and put their faith at the center. The father of six, Rev. Run heads a blended family and says much of the challenge many couples face is that they plan their wedding exquisitely - but not their marriages. The couple say they work hard to keep their marriage fresh.
OBAMA, himself the child of a single-parent household, caught a lot of flak when he called on black fathers to take more responsibility for their children.
But that's a strong point - and he can back it up because he appears to be a stellar parent.
As our new president calls on the nation to embrace new attitudes about rebuilding the country, we all need to take a page from his family values. Unlike some of their predecessors, the Obamas appear to be have it together, a welcome relief from some of the episodes history has recorded at the White House.
I never doubted for one moment that I would one day see an African-American president in my lifetime. I was raised by accomplished parents who made educating their children their No. 1 priority.
And they taught us that black folks can achieve anything we want, and that strong families are the key to building a healthy nation. *
Fatimah Ali is a journalist, media consultant and an associate member of the Daily News editorial board.