Civil Rights for African Americans

Many human rights activists have made significant efforts in addressing the contentious topic affecting the African American community in the United States. Racial discrimination in the US has been a long-standing prevalent issue in the country. Many Americans believe that the country has made minimal progress in achieving equality; and racism is still rampant in contemporary America. Other Americans areskeptical that the blacks will ever have equal rights as the whites in the US (Klug, 2016). Daniel Moynihan is one leader who voiced his sentiments on how racial discrimination has impoverished the lives of African Americans. In his report, “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action”, he presents his arguments on how racial discrimination and injustices have affected black families. Coates also argues along the same line but deeply mentioning how unfair government laws on incarcerations have contributed to such a desolate life amongst the blacks. In his article, “The Black Families in the Age of Mass Incarceration”, he presents a compelling verdict on how the incarcerations affected many African American families. 

Analysis of “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action” 

On New Year’s Eve of 1964, Daniel Moynihan summoned his staff and asked them to help him write a report addressing the plight of the African American families. The report was later finalized in 1965 and became one of the most contentious documents of the twentieth century. ‘The Negro Family: The Case for National Action’ was widely referred to as the “Moynihan Report”. Moynihan’s intention of writing the report was to coax the Whitehouse Officials on how civil rights in its individuality would not yield racial equality for the African Americans. Successfully, Moynihan won the attention of President Lyndon Johnson who would later use the report to make a consequential address at Howard University on the 4th of June, 1965. Johnson echoed the necessity of a decent living for African Americans, arguing that freedom alone was incapable of achieving equality between blacks and whites. Contrastingly, Johnson’s administration was quick to cast-off the report when it became a significant source of contention in August 1965. Johnson downplayed the report annoying many civil rights activists. Moynihan would later receive bitter criticisms with a fair share of approbations. A rather incisive analysis of the Moynihan report is given detailing its positives and negatives as well as its relevance in the current society (Klug, 2016). The report is divided into subtopics which together form the final analysis of the document and Moynihan’s underlying motivation. 

Moynihan mentions the ever-widening the schism in American communities. Despite the win the blacks had on civil rights laws, racism and discrimination against the blacks are still present within the American civilization. Moynihan remarks that without proper access to noble jobs, black men would lack viable means to support their families (Mohinya, 1965). This deficiency implies that many black men will be detached from their families, resulting in very high rates of divorce among the black community. Furthermore, many children will be abandoned or left to be raised by single mothers; at the same time, births out of wedlock would surge at an uncontrollable rate. The effect of these births would be households headed by females; and with insufficient funds to take care of these families, most children will lack proper education, there will be increased rates of abuse of children, and most families would wallow in abject poverty. According to Klug (2016), the resulting level of poverty due to an increased number of single black mothers is what became the heart of Moynihan’s report and with which Moynihan called for national action 

In fighting the deep-rooted poverty amongst African Americans, Moynihan made an argument in providing jobs, education for the blacks and also vocational training. The report encountered both positive and negative receptions with Douglas Massey terming it as very constructive in waging war on poverty. In stating his remedies, Moynihan also noted the importance of school integration which he however feels is still far away from achievement, especially in the Northern Urban Ghettos of Harlem. Due to this, Moynihan suggests that more energy should be spent in rebuilding the suburb ghettos than wasting energy in creating artificial intelligence (Mohinya, 1965). Moynihan dreams that a ghetto school in New York shouldn’t rank as one of the most inferior schools in the region but one of its best. The millions of dollars provided as Federal Aid for education should be directed in developing these segregated schools. Moreover, Moynihan believes that the quick way to upgrade these ghetto schools is by having Negros as teachers and doing away with the white teachers. 

Most of Moynihan’s critics from the liberal community angrily believe that integration should take precedence over family robustness. However, in proving his critics wrong, Moynihan references the many Chinese and Japanese immigrants who came into the country towards the end of the 19th century. These immigrants came when they were despondently poor, highly unskilled and uneducated, but whose descendants have gone to achieve tremendous success. Moynihan displays how the highest group of those enrolled in colleges is that of Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and Jews. The reason for this high enrollment is because these people have a coherent and educated family life. 

Moynihan also mentioned that Negros exhibit lower IQ levels than their white counterparts. This statement angered the civil rights leaders who even though believe it to be true, don’t think it’s appropriate to incorporate in government studies. A study report on first-graders suggests that those first-graders without fathers display an IQ level of 7.5% lower than that of first-graders with fathers. This study was conducted among first-graders living in Central Harlem, where the majority of the children are brought up by single mothers (Klug, 2016). Moynihan believes a sub-average IQ leads to poor performance in schools which in turn contributes to early dropouts. And in the American system that heavily relies on technology and automation, most of these uneducated blacks rank as the most unemployed. 

A black male is either born illegitimately or born in a household where the father has abandoned the mother leaving her to raise the family on her own This state causes this young male to perform poorly in school and also drop out eventually. Growing up as a youth, he joins a fellow group of young unemployed men. When he gets his own family, he cannot take care of them and also brings up a son in such a horrendous state. He either sires a son illegitimately or abandons his family, leaving them to fend for themselves. His son would hence grow in similar conditions as his and the cycle keeps on repeating itself (Klug, 2016). The only solution, according to Moynihan, is to create new jobs for men in both federal and local governments. These jobs should be financially beneficial to the Negro man and his family rather than being disadvantageous to him. 

Analysis of “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” 

The period of mass incarceration of the Negros has negatively impacted the structure of the economy in the United States. A lot of people attribute this to the unfairness of ordinances that have been enforced by the government on its citizens. Politicians are trying to make announcements to try and make people believe otherwise. Still, the conclusion remains that this level of incarceration dates back to history when blacks were highly discriminated them. Additionally, these laws have posed so much danger on the Negro families, and the perils are not issues that can just be overlooked. Borrowing from the works of Patrick Moynihan, conscientious attention has to be given to black families. This information has significantly helped in addressing the unfairness against the black families and the scars it has left behind. 

The primary purpose of the article “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” is to address the injustices that occurred in the US for a very long time. The government came up with very unfair policies that ended up causing so much harm to black families during this period. A lot of the black people immensely suffered from racism which in turn affected both their social and economic lives. This unfair treatment of the blacks reverberates till now making it a hotly debated topic. It is pertinent to mention that the blacks were the main victims of these incarcerations. This effect reasonably explains the high levels of poverty amongst the black families and resonates well with Moynihan’s report that puts the black families at the centre of its message. 

According to Coates (1973), blacks were presented education that had no help at all in sustaining them. Coates adds that blacks were allowed only manual jobs since the education they received wasn’t enough to get them white-collar jobs. Coates references Moynihan’s work by stating how blacks received unbearable blows from social discrimination. Many black youths gave in to atrocities of social discrimination as very few achieved their dreams and goals.For mass incarceration, the implication is that there has to exist very high levels of insecurity. The Detroit neighborhood, for instance, experienced numerous assessments on the regularity of incarnation, implying that crime was deeply rooted in this place during that period of mass incarceration. Additionally, Coates relates the high levels of crime to be a result of the high abuse of drugs. Ideally, the black community in the one heavily influenced by excessive use of drugs (Coates, 1973). A more in-depth look concludes that poverty could be a significant contributing factor towards this irresponsibility. Drugs, therefore, are the cause behind the mass incarceration amongst the blacks as they lead to crime in the community. 

Moreover, the article pinpoints the image that is associated with black people. Many of these black people are naturally considered law-breakers. This perception dates to way back in history and has negatively affected the black community. Many blacks were arrested as a result of this stereotypic ideology leaving the population of the country at a huge disadvantage. Additionally, it is this perception that has exposed blacks to an unfair criminal justice system resulting in sentences unfavorably issued against them (Eisen, 2017). This perception must be eliminated in achieving equality between the blacks and the whites. When the notion is eradicated, the American community can be assured of positive development. 

The stereotypic notions being imposed on blacks has immensely affected their wellbeing. These detrimental perceptions lock blacks off the job market. At the same time, the idea that blacks are outlaws has infamously boosted racial discrimination against the blacks, which practically affects the community at large. Employers become reluctant to offer blacks jobs in offices due to the fallacy that they are criminals. As a result, many blacks lack sustainable jobs making it difficult for them to provide for themselves. Conclusively, many blacks continue to live in poverty which also boosts the high levels of crime and as a result mass incarceration. 

Racism is a vice that leads to unfair distribution of resources in society as well as contributing to a lack of equity. Racism is what causes prejudice which in turn leads to violence, crime, and other harmful avoidable activities. It makes it difficult for the affected communities to coexist and relate amicably socially. For that reason, viable and effective measures must be taken in addressing evil and protecting the welfare of the community. This article by Coates importantly explains the key contributors to crime in the community, which if well avoided by enforcing proper measures, could help in restoring the community balance. 

Ethics, therefore, is an essential factor while dealing with related issues of unfairness. Unfair treatment against black is what has contributed significantly to increased levels of mass incarceration. For that reason, equality as an ethical practice can be enforced to help eradicate the unfairness waged against the blacks. Positive development can only be achieved when there is a fair treatment to everyone, more specifically the blacks. 

Significance and Relevance of “The Moynihan Report” 

The Moynihan report ranks as one of the most controversial documents written. Although the document has received so much criticism, it is fair to say that it has had an important role in revolutionizing some aspects of society. Most importantly, this report has helped wage a pivotal fight against poverty that mostly affected the black society (Klug, 2016). Moynihan argues that his inspiration towards writing this report was the fact that he was brought up by a single mother who found it so difficult taking care of them. Moynihan’s father abandoned them like many other black families making it extremely hard for a single mother to fend for the family. This problem pushed him towards finding a solution for many blacks who he believes suffer because of the disintegration of their families. 

Moynihan believed that the surest way to eradicate poverty amongst the black community was not through killing racism, but instead through helping the black man out here find meaningful ways of taking care of his family. He believed this could be made possible by developing the education system in the black community. This move has helped see a notable establishment of learning institutions amongst the Negros. Young children, more specifically, young boys, can get access to proper education and grow up to be respectable men in society (Klug, 2016). Moreover, black institutions initially employed whites as teachers, but currently, blacks have an equal opportunity to teach in those schools and make good money. 

Towards eradicating poverty, Moynihan pushed for the creation of both local and state jobs for the blacks. Many blacks lacked proper schooling and training, making it hard for them to work in notable jobs. Through vocational training, a topic voiced by Moynihan, blacks have an excellent opportunity to get trained and find sustainable employment. This movement has strongly helped improve the economic status of the black community. The recommendations he was pushing for are very relevant, judging by the condition Moynihan had to grow up in. Many black men struggle with providing for their families due to a lack of sustainable jobs. As a result, they end abandoning these families posing a considerable complication to the single mothers in bringing up the families. Or at times, some only end up giving birth to children illegitimately. If the young black men are granted access to good schooling, he will achieve his goals and won’t have to leave his family. His sons brought up in such fashion will follow a similar trajectory, ensuring that the black community is alleviated from poverty. 

Significance and Relevance of “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” 

Moynihan’s report traced the social and economic sorrow in the black community as a result of the deeply entrenched poverty caused by single parenting. Despite Moynihan’s call in addressing this profound issue, the government did the reverse opposite by enacting laws that would lead to many blacks in prison. The significance of this article is explaining how the emergence of maa incarceration has affected African American life. Coates believes the age of mass incarceration is a new tool in promoting racial inequality against the Negros. 

Coates explains a significant point on how these laws have displayed so much unfairness against the blacks. He argues that the families that have suffered harshly are the ones with nonviolent men (Coates, 1973). Certain black men have been incarcerated due to senseless issues such as missing appointments and failing drug tests. Most of these men are fathers who are no threat at all to national security.Additionally, most of these incarcerated fathers find it hard to get employment post-incarceration due to the vile stereotypic portrayal they gain after prison. It, therefore, becomes increasingly difficult for them to take care of the families and end up being dependent like the children. Furthermore, while in prison, they are denied the opportunity to interact with their children and will find it tough to reestablish proper relationships with their children. 

Most of these unfair rules were imposed by racism as a key contributor. The document is very relevant as it addresses an issue that might be considered trivial and meaningless. However, these incarcerations have indeed worsened the social and economic troubles amongst the blacks. This cause is because single mothers are left to support families independently and get overwhelmed in the process (Simmons, 2017). Ethics is vital, according to Coates in addressing this quagmire. A fair trial should be given, and no prejudice should be referenced by the justice system while issuing sentences. 

Correlation between the Two Articles 

Moynihan’s report based its analysis and execution in the deeply-rooted poverty with the black community. He argued that the major reason behind so much deficiency amongst the Negros is the lack of a close-knit family. Many black men cannot provide for a family and resort to abandoning the family in lifting off the burden. A single mother who might have had no work before this abandonment is left to fend for the family and gets impoverished while doing so. A young boy brought into such an illegitimate family will lack proper education and resultantly grow up and follow a similar path like his father before him. He drops out and proceeds to join his fellow unemployed men on the streets. Eventually, they are unable to bring up a proper family and end up siring illegitimate children. Those who proceed to be family men abandon their families, and the cycle goes on and on. 

As much as Coates tried to strongly delink his article to that of Moynihan’s, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” addresses a similar topic of poverty amongst the blacks. Similarly, Coates believes that it’s through the disintegration of the black families that poverty continues to live on. Many black men who are family men are unfairly convicted, also leaving single mothers to take care of families alone. At the same type, the detrimental reputations that black men get after these incarcerations puts them in a position of discrimination. Many are denied employment in offices due to being painted as outlaws who can’t be trusted. The major similarity, therefore, between the two papers is how the crumbling of the black families results in ignominious poverty among the blacks. 

The Gaps in the Two Articles and Overall Practical Recommendations to Fill Them 

Ever since Moynihan published his report, it has been attacked by the blacks he was fighting for and some civil rights leaders. These critics blamed Moynihan for only using a stereotype of the black community in representing all the blacks and unjustifiably inferring that blacks had the lesser ability when it came it school work. Other critics like Spillers believed that specific terminologies like matriarchy and patriarchy could not be used to define black families due to the gross level of slavery they have suffered. These terms are only relevant when referring to white families as they offer a better ground for a standard measure. Spillers’ criticism is invalidated as it is true that the survival of many families heavily depended on the black male. The success of the black man means a family would thrive, and his failure also means the family would crumble. However, in making a more comprehensive understanding of this study, Moynihan should not solely imply that a family led by a woman is bound to fail. Many black families right now are made up of single mothers who are fully capable of providing for their families. 

Some of the blacks strongly antagonized some of the remedies in the form of suggestions from the report. Moynihan prescribed that the state should chip in to help black men by providing them with their masculine nature. At the same time, he calls for black men to man up and rightfully owns the title of the patriarch. The issue should not be the government helping blacks, but instead, blacks taking hold of the opportunities at their disposal in making that change. A certain review on the education system indicated that most black men performed poorly as opposed to their female counterparts. This report indicates that at the time, the ground might be level for both blacks and whites, but the blacks fail to take advantage. Many black men also graduated from high school but failed to complete college, meaning they couldn’t get employment. With a more reformed education system in place, black men can use the opportunity to finish school and find well-paying jobs exhaustively. It will no longer be a matter of the government, helping them find jobs, but instead, they will have the necessary skills and abilities to take hold of these jobs. 

Moynihan did not intensively address certain factors like unemployment rates among the blacks. In most cases, most blacks lacked employment because the rates of unemployment were high. Around the 1960s, a fair number of black men had employment just like white men. However, the rates were slightly higher in black men than in white men though not that huge. Other reasons that caused marriages to break was a decline in male employment and an increment in female employment. This variation is a slight disparity that could be addressed by levelling the dynamics. States should ensure that for any white man employed in any job, a black man should also be employed. 

Feminists also argued that Moynihan’s report was male-centered and his proposals portrayed women as a less able gender. He does not, for instance, mention that in the past, the women engaged in marriages to gain material resources was because most cultural societies denied women access to jobs (Eisen, 2017). This unfairness meant women couldn’t get enough wages to take care of a family, leave alone themselves. However, with the introduction of a more inclusive in the US towards the end of the 20th century, women had access to jobs, and most could independently take care of families. 

“ The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” has also attracted a fair share of approval and disapproval. One major criticism that lingers on to now is the fact that this article only paints blacks as victims of politics disregarding their active participation. Many activists borrowing from Coates agree that the laws set in conviction are somehow very unfair to the blacks. According to Coates, also, many black men who are incarcerated are the ones posing very little harm to society. But one thing he fails to consider is, what if these blacks are criminals who should be behind bars. If by chance, these criminals are let out to the society in the name of them being innocent, they may end up causing more harm than good. 

Despite being so vocal in protecting the blacks, consideration should be made on the huge picture and the effect this might cause. Better mechanisms should be presented in ensuring that those convicted are rightfully convicted and not the reverse. It is dangerous to push for the exoneration of many hardcore criminals by merely suggesting that their incarceration could be invalid. The criminal justice system should instead reevaluate their laws and ensure every outlined sentence for specific crimes is justifiable. For instance, a 5-year sentence was given for criminals who were caught trafficking 500 grams of cocaine. The same punishment was given for criminals trafficking 5 grams of crack cocaine. You find that most blacks only trafficked the crack cocaine, which is of lower value, yet they suffered a similar sentence like the Whites trafficking something of higher value. These are the laws that have to be readdressed to ensure that everyone is convicted fairly, it will go a long way in reducing unfair convictions and ensuring just black men can take care of their families. 

Conclusion 

Both the articles by Moynihan and Coates have gone a long way in championing for equality for the Negros. Moynihan’s articles, for instance, have been referenced by enigmas like Martin Luther King and Barrack Obama. These documents have provided a fundamental background in pushing for a reformed and unified America. Ever since their introduction, significant changes have occurred in line with racial equity. Blacks can now access proper education and equivalent access to jobs like whites. Even though Moynihan’s motion received so much criticism from different stakeholders, it also greatly helped its intended victims. In echoing Moynihan’s sentiments, Coates also provided an important piece in redeeming the blacks. 

References 

Coates, T. (1973). The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration. The Atlantic. Retrieve from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/10/the-black-family-in-the-age-of-mass-incarceration/403246/ 

Eisen, L. B. (2017). Inside private prisons: An American dilemma in the age of mass incarceration. Columbia University Press. 

Klug, S. (2016). The Moynihan Report Resurrected. Dissent, 63(1), 48-55. 

Miller, M. C. (2018). Destroyed by slavery? Slavery and African American family formation following emancipation. Demography, 55(5), 1587-1609. 

Moynihan, D. P. (1965). The Negro family: The case for national action. Washington, DC: US Department of Labor; 1965. 

Simmons, L. (2017). The prison school: Educational inequality and school discipline in the age of mass incarceration. Univ of California Press.