The Family Structure

I was recently on facebook.com and received a message about a forum looking for answers to is the African American family weakening. And are our children loosing respect for authority. This is what I believe.

No the African American Family is not weakening. No our children aren't losing respect for authority. Its Actually getting stronger or both accounts. As times change and more opportunities arise for African American it can become confusing to the shelter parents of yesterday. Who value hard work and a secure job, the parents who believe the "harder you work the more money or success you'll obtain." This statement which might have seamed true many years ago has proven to be false over and over again in todays society. In real life the more money you make the less you should have to work. The tradition African American family doesn't understand this logic. Because most of our ancestors had to sweat to earn a living. This confusion is why its seems like theres a breakdown in respect for authority among our youth. But in actuality, our youth has a better knowledge of the system that we live in, and understands how this system can be exploited, by anyone. This understanding has also made todays youth view their parents in a different light. Because they only see the opportunities of today, and wonder why there parents didn't use these opportunities to change their own live. While todays generation still loves their parents, they frown upon their views of work and don't often take their advise. Not out of disrespect but more out of distrust.

I honestly I believe that kids in elementary schools today are more socially aware then ever before. Simply because of technology. Our children are exposed to so much more things at an early age. This allows their personalities to develop earlier. Before parents could influence their kids now their thinking for themselves.

If you take a kid in elementary school and ask them about being the President of the United States, if they speak from history they'll talk about all the white Presidents of the past. If they speak from their personal experience they'll either speak about Obama or maybe Bush. So they know that Obama is the first non-white President. That alone changes the dreams and thoughts of many kids. Because its no longer I want to be the first Black President, its I want to be a President. These Kids parents grew up believing they would never see this day many of them discouraging the notion that their child could be the first.