Human beings are social creatures spending a lot of time socializing, interacting and participating in activities that involve others. A family is a unit, a close organization of people who are related by blood and genes and so have a unique common trait that makes them a single “organism”, with own culture, beliefs and traditions. Families and life partners get each other through some of the roughest times, and this is especially true for African-American families.
The African American society has been the target of discrimination, stereotyping and racism for a long time. They are still suffering from the fact that their families and relatives grew up in a segregated and separated America, but the support that was between the community members has shown to be of great strength.
It helped people to have some joy in their lives and health to fight for freedom that still continues today. One of the greatest problems was the system that treated African-Americans in a predisposed and stereotypical manner. Very often, law authorities resorted to racial profiling and thus, contributed and reinforced the negative statistics and views of the rest of society.
The work market was also slanted to the negative side, so the support of families was the only counter action that could be taken. As such, African-American couples stayed closer together, tried to raise strong and proud children. As described in the “The Union of Two for Life and Jake” men and women were together, went through joy and sadness, tears and hardships, but managed to survive and look into the future.
Marriage was another supporting factor for the Afican-American community. It is a union between two people, which is unique through the qualities that each person brings into the relationship. This helps people to put their strengths and knowledge together and get through the hard and oppressing times.
Even though every marriage will definitely have points of conflict, which will test the strength of each person’s feelings towards their partner and the marriage in general, a strong bond is unlike anything else. “The Bean Eaters” talks about a couple who grew old together, and simply because dinners have become routine, and the time spent together is expected, the union still exists. This shows that people are meant to be more resistant to the hardships of life as a unit.
Unfortunately, children who are the future creators of families and couples are susceptible to the bad influences of the community and society. When a person sees how their family suffers, they feel the need to do something. Often, a single parent experiences difficulty in raising a child. While paying for food and shelter, spending many hours working, it makes evident the fact that there is very little time to spend child-rearing.
The values and behaviors that a child learns early on are very important. Character forms in the beginning years of life and it is very hard to change later. The ghettos of African-Americans who were forced into segregated areas with little or no employment and poor housing slowed down the process of children becoming successful in life. This led to couples having several children, so that they could support each other, and be more productive as a family.
The interconnection between siblings can be seen from Toni Morrison’s “Sula” and how the two children support each other. One is emotional and the other controls feelings, but their bond is just as strong. Even when a traumatic event of a boy drowning takes place, the stay as one, and do not let each other fall into psychosis. Once again, this proves that the ties between siblings and families are inseparable.
A major breakthrough happened in the 1980’s, which is sometimes called the “golden ages”. This was the active time in the fight for the rights and freedoms of black community. There was a great involvement from the American society, where African American history became a study of the society and the unfair treatment they have been experiencing. Their culture was recognized as a key part of the United States.
There were a number of reforms in the education system that limited and regulated any form of discrimination. There was a lot of African American women’s publishing about the history of the people. And because families have been around since the beginning of human history, individuals in secluded African-American communities depended on family, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and even far off relatives. The only way to survive was though the cooperation and unity.
They lived together, worked and were the first people who would offer help in case of need. The more friendly, healthy and close a family is, the more they can achieve, because with a shared goal they become more productive and directed, as everyone contributes to the matter.
Throughout time African-American family has stayed one of the strongest building units of their society. It carries its unique originality and culture which is of great importance not only on a personal level but public as well.