My Contribution for Service Learning in the African American Family

As I try to make a decision about a service learning project for my African American families class, I am somewhat overwhelmed and with that feeling I am grateful. I tend to be zealous about my goals and dreams and sometimes that leads to out of touch with reality.  As I ponder my part in a project for African American Families, I want it all. With all sincerity, I want to do some part of all of it.  With all due respect and a dose of reality, I know that it is entirely impossible, not only from a time factor but what is the best use of your time factor. I have to ask some serious questions as I make the decision to find where my input can be the most effective.

Where will my time, knowledge, and influence be well received?
Where can I make the biggest impact?
Where can I not only grow as an individual, but also engage others?

As I have thought about our projects and what is available, all roads lead back to Tim Wise and his stance on "White Privilege" Showing this film to a group of students and even those outside academia is an opportunity to encourage others to take a look at the oppression of African Americans and to look at the opportunities of being white.  I am excited about the impact that this may have and the ability to help change the egocentric thinking of others.

Strengths of the African American Family

As opposed to so many negatives we hear regarding the African American family, there are actually many positives that are often overlooked and diminished. The African American community/family is composed of a people of strong faith. This is highly regarded in their culture, a place to go for support and encouragement and yes, even correction. With only 2% of psychologists being African American, I think it is important that the community has a support system within their church to guide, lead and give direction.

I also see the African American female as being a strong support and a truly positive for the African American family.  Due to the overwhelming incarceration rate and absence of the male leadership, the role of female is critically important. She strives to teach, instruct and give her family guidance. With a healthy and positive self-esteem, these women are able to impact their family and community in a critical way.

Mentoring programs would be a crucial way to allow the black family to have more support and guidance/direction. The church, with it's integral role in the African American family, could provide mentoring and teaching for young black males to have the values and insight they need to become strong role models for their siblings, peers, and younger counterparts. This would allow the family to become stronger as we grab these young men at an early age and give them role models to look up to. By providing the tools these young men need to be successful, they can make the family even stronger.

One of the programs, Center for Family Research, Strong African American Families Program, is working with young children thru adults to strengthen and support the African American Family. http://www.cfr.uga.edu/projects

African American Family and Faith

         We have discussed at length the role of faith in the lives of African Americans. As much as it is  a source of strength, it can also be problematic as we look at the role between acceptance, struggle, and seeking help. Many African Americans may feel as though God is their source of strength and refuge and yet for others it may be a source of conflict as they neglect to feel accepted by their peers or deny themselves the opportunity to be honest about their struggles. How is the faith of the African American a positive and a negative? How does the role of faith pose a problem for the gay person, those in marital conflict, the strong African American woman, and the strong African American male who wants to seek counseling?  Looking at the articles, "the choice to be gay," African American Women's Spiritual Beliefs: A Guide to Treatment," and "Found: 85,000 Black Gay Households," how does spirituality play a negative and positive role? How does this affect the male or female in the lower quadrant?  How would the Nguzo Saba principle of Ujima and Imani break down these struggles?