A ‘No More Excuses’ Christmas?

Freda747 a huge part of the problem is that black americans are dropping kids left and right before they are 18. Most Africans are educated and when they come here with nothing and bust their asses and as a result 48% of African immigrants have at least a bachelor's degree as opposed to 27% for the general US population and even less for Black Americans. WE HAVE KNOWN ALL ALONG THAT THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. Most of us are from two parent homes and have respect for our elders being sexy is not our number one priority so a man that can buy us stuff is not the guy we are after. From what I have seen, most black women choose the WRONG MEN because they want men to support lavish lifestyles regardless of whether he steals, kills or sells to get the money. You are so concerned with making this a black man or African man problem but at the end of the day each individual is responsible for their actions so the women are responsible for who they give it up to and what they get out of it.

Freda747 a huge part of the problem is that black americans are dropping kids left and right before they are 18. Most Africans are educated and when they come here with nothing and bust their asses and as a result 48% of African immigrants have at least a bachelor's degree as opposed to 27% for the general US population and even less for Black Americans. Most of us are from two parent homes and have respect for our elders being sexy is not our number one priority so a man that can buy us stuff is not the guy we are after. From what I have seen, most black women choose the WRONG MEN because they want men to support lavish lifestyles regardless of whether he steals, kills or sells to get the money. You are so concerned with making this a black man or African man problem but at the end of the day each individual is responsible for their actions so the women are responsible for who they give it up to and what they get out of it.

My issue with the whole thing is that black people act like he's all black, that he's one of them and he's not, he's only half. They need to understand that he can't change the ghetto, people from there will never change!!!
What's funny is that they had these young ladies on TV that attended black college the reporter asked on why they voted for obama and all they could say was because he was black. That says enought!!

I enjoyed this article. I don't think anything will ever stop racism or any other ism for that matter. But if the ism's become the minority we have a chance to make things better. Though I don't believe in Obama's political ideas. I believe he will bring about alot of good things for this nation in respect to the black community. But it comes back to what we teach our children at home. Love thy neighbor and treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

I found your article to be inspiring. I know too many black people that don't give themselves enough credit for what they are capable of doing with their lives. I really hope that Obama can inspire them to live up to their own potential. Racism is not over but many of the barriers that have been holding young black people back are self imposed. Maybe they will see now that America can and will open up the rest of the world for them so long as they show they really want it and are willing to work for it. Everyone else has to work hard to make sure that the doors they need to through are not slammed in their faces like they use to be. I think Obama will inspire all races to do what they need to do.

I believe the idea of "Marry Your Baby Daddy Day" comes from a place of good, but the whole premise is degrading. The name itself lends credence to it. Once again it puts the pressure and responsibility of leading the family on the "baby mama". The article doesn't offer any information about the divorce rates among her 50 couples in 5 years. I'm praying that they are still together and doing well but the truth of the matter is that married couples who didn't have kids out of wedlock, are divorcing at alarming rates for other reasons besides kids. So to say marrying your baby daddy is the cure all or even a panacea for the problems that exist in black families, is irresponsible--good in theory--but irresponsible. I grew up in a 2 parent home with an alcoholic father who literally beat my mom to death. My mom didn't want to marry him because he was abusive but marrying your baby daddy was almost mandatory back in the 60's. A 2-parent home isn't necessarily a better home. Especially a home already wracked with poverty and/or other social ills. If your "baby daddy" isn't employed or educated what makes you think he's going to be a great provider? If HE can't provide for or help you with his babies, YOU are still the head of the household, which most men don't deal with well. Most men believe that they are the heads of their households, kings of the castle etc...so if he won't, can't or just plain hasn't pulled his weight so far, what's the point of marrying your baby daddy? And, what about the daddy's that have multiple children with multiple women...which mama does baby daddy marry? If both parents always wanted to get married but didn't have the role models in their lives to show them what a committed marriage is or educate them on the ups and downs of marriage, then I say help them gain that knowledge, help them become that so-called "nuclear family". And if we want to be real, let's get a lot more responsible about educating our teens and young adults about sex and baby-making. Preventing babies having babies in the first place (therefore voiding the need for young girls/women to marry their baby daddy) should be our first item of business. Again, there is nothing wrong with marrying your baby's daddy if it is something the both of you really want and will be a benefit to the both of you, thus the child(ren). There is more to marriage than the wedding day.

Leena and DesRoase I agree with you fully!

I dont think marriage alone can act as a band-aid to fix problems for ANY family. The statistics given in this article omits outside variables that may make being married appear to be the optimal choice. Perhaps most married couples are better educated in comparison to non married couples, this would mean that a married couple's children and lifestyle would probably be better than a non married couple's family, NOT because they are married but because they are better educated. It's ridiculous to assume that if you get couples that aren't married to marry, their lives would magical turn for the better. This is precisely what this artcile suggests and It is not that simple. "Marry Your Baby Daddy"? How ridiculous and degrading. The fact this idea comes from the mind of black woman is mind boggling. Newsweek should better assess the quality of its articles.

I dont think marriage alone can act as a band-aid to fix problems for ANY family. The statistics given in this article omits outside variables that may make being married appear to be the optimal choice. Perhaps most married couples are better educated in comparison to non married couples, this would mean that a married couple's children and lifestyle would probably be better than a non married couple's family, NOT because they are married but because they are better educated. It's ridiculous to assume that if you get couples that aren't married to marry, their lives would magical turn for the better. This is precisely what this artcile suggests and It is not that simple. "Marry Your Baby Daddy"? How ridiculous and degrading. The fact this idea comes from the mind of black woman is mind boggling. Newsweek should better assess the quality of its articles.

Obama is a symbol that anything is possible if your mind is right and you not only set goals, but follow through on them. Being a Black man myself, I've learned that the roles models that are chosen for us has never really done anything for us or that we can aspire to that will effect the world and make our community proud as a whole. We don't have any more excuses why we can't achieve...just excuses on why we won't do right by ourselves and our communities.

I think a lot depends on how Obama actually does in the Office of the Presidency before one can predict how his win will affect the black community. The jury is still out on that one. It seems to me that the racial situation is so ingrained in America that the only real change will be on the margins of white / black society. And let us not forget that Obama is half white and his campaign seemed to ignore the black community for the most part.

Proper, lol. I'm typing too fast because I'm pretty offended by this articule. Sorry!