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Chapter 3

cohesion in African-American families is

often overshadowed by the negative

depiction of African-American family

life. Studies have shown African-

American families have about 70 various

structural formations, compared to about

40 in white families. This illustrates the

variability of family structure and the

flexibility of family roles in African-

American families (Barbarin, 1993).

Insingle-parentfamilies,the

relationshipbetweenthemotherandfather

usuallydictatestheamountof contact

fathershavewiththeirchildren.Evenwhen

thereislittlecontactwithachild’s

biologicalfather,African-American

childrenusuallyhavecontactwithuncles,

malecousins,andothermenintheir

community.Grandparents,especially

grandmothers,areimportantinthelivesof

African-Americanchildrenandoften

performsomeof thechild-rearing

functions(Barbarin,1993).Someof the

difficultiescontinuingtoplagueAfrican-

Americanfamiliesarehighunemployment

andunderemployment,ahighnumberof

single-parentfamilies,gangs,drugs,low

educationalattainment,andpoverty

(McAdoo,2007).

Hispanic Families in Modern America

Hispanic-Americans have played

definitive roles in forging U.S.history and

culture.They are the largest minority in

the United States,numbering 42.7 million

in 2005.Hispanics constituted 14% of the

nation’s total population with a 3.3%

increase from 2004 to 2005 (U.S.Census

Bureau,2006e),making people of

Hispanic origin the nation’s fastest-

growing ethnic or race minority.

Familyisahighlyvaluedpartof

Hispaniclife.Thereisasenseof dependence

onthefamilyunit,whichextendsinto

Modern African-American families are frequently formed

with the birth of a child rather than marriage.

Hispanic-American families tend to be tight knit extended

families who embrace traditional values such as hard

work, honesty, loyalty and dedication.

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