The Marginalization of Black Men: Impact on Family Structure
Author(s)
Darity Jr., William A.; Myers Jr., Samuel L.
Abstract
“The book chapter summarized here jointly analyzes two trends which are of great concern to analysts of inequality: the marginalization, or unwantedness to society, of black men, and the growth in black female-headed families. The authors compare competing explanations for the increase in female headed families. A structural explanation incorporates changing socio-economic circumstances for black men which are likely to have a bearing on the formation of black families. Behavioral models claim that welfare policy offers incentives to single mothers to remain unmarried. The evidence discussed below favors a structural explanation. The authors develop a chain of association between deteriorating economic circumstances for young black men, increased participation in illegal and violent activity, involvement in the criminal justice system, increased mortality, and a reduction in the numbers of young black men capable of forming and supporting families. They then examine the sensitivity (elasticity) of the incidence of female-headed families to changes in structural and behavioral variables.
