African American Boys

INTRODUCTION

Statement of Problem

A study conducted in 1998, found that young men who grow up in fatherless homes were twice as likely to end up in jail as those who were reared in a traditional two parent home also referred as a "nuclear family" (Harper and McLanahan, 1998). Since the 1950s, the number of households headed by single females raising children in the United States has steadily risen. According to statistics, approximately 34% of American children live without their biological fathers. However, for "African American" boys, the statistics are very alarming. Studies show that "African American" boys reared in single parent homes headed by females are more likely to commit criminal and delinquent acts, have higher school dropout rates, are more prone to use drugs and alcohol, and are more likely to participate in gang activities.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine if the absence of a father in the home of "African American" boys is a contributing factor for the increase in crime and delinquency. In an event that such linkage is found, the study will seek answers to the following question:

Does the absence of a father contribute to higher delinquency and crime rates among "African American" boys?

George Thomas and Michael P. Farrell, and Grace Barnes (1996), in "The effects of single-mother families and nonresident fathers on delinquency and substance abuse" wrote on a study in which an examination of how delinquency was affecred by single mother households. The research was conducted using a sample of 600 parents and their adolescent children. A comparison was performed using African American and White adolescent males. Surprisingly, while studies show that African American males growing up in a single mother household do tend to have problems with crime and delinquency, studies also show that White males in a single mother household with no father support have more issues with crime and delinquency than their African American counterparts.

Further while many studies have shown that there is a "negative impact" on males growing up in single mother households, "(e.g., Dornbusch et al., 1985; Flewelling & Bauman, 1990; Garasky, 1995; Hetherington, Camara, & Featherman, 1983; McLanahan & Sandefur, 1994; Newcomer & Udry, 1987; Zill, 1988)", some studies dictate that there is only a small impact on such males "(Turner, Irwin, & Millstone, 1991; Watts & Watts, 1991)" (Thomas, Farrell & Barnes, 1996).

In a study of 254 African-American male adolescents, boys living with both biological parents were most likely to cite their fathers as role models (96 percent), compared to only 44 percent of those not living with their fathers, and were more likely to stay in school (Krampe & Fairweather).

The variable roles of family, gender, and race are underdeveloped in Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime, also called self control and propensity-event theory. Using cross-sectional data generated as part of the National Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, we assessed the links between the self-reported gang involvement of 5,935 eighth-grade public school students residing in eleven widely dispersed cities and their levels of self-control, gender, minority group status, and family context. We found that youths with low self-control levels reported that they were more deeply involved in gangs than youths with high self-control, as were youths who were not closely monitored by their parents. We also found differences by gender, minority group status, and family structure. This article explores the limitations and implications of these findings for gang research, theory, and juvenile justice practice (Lynskey)

Research Hypotheses

The absence of a father contributes to higher delinquency and crime rates among

"African American" boys?

Null Hypothesis:

The absence of a father in the home does not contribute to higher delinquency and crime

rates among "African American boys.

Justification

The significance of this study is to determine if there is a negative impact on "African American" boys growing up in homes without a father as it relates to juvenile delinquency and higher crime rates, increased usage of drugs and alcohol, and higher school dropout rates, becoming involved in gangs, and to stress the importance and benefits of having a father in the home. Although much research has been conducted on fatherless children in the African American community, there is still a need for more research among criminologists, sociologists, and behavioralists to determine if other variables such as poverty level, mental health issues, divorce rates, etc. are not the primary contributing factors to crime and delinquency among African American boys and or adolescents.

Limitations

The research for this study will be limited by the 100 questionnaires administered to female headed households (mother only), two parent homes (mother and father), and "African American" boys reared in fatherless homes growing up in the inner city, as well as those growing up in two parent homes in the inner city. The research is also limited by the amount of prior research conducted and found in peer review articles, journals, books and national statistical databases which include information from a variety of studies listing different variables for outcomes. The researcher acknowledges that other variables not studied may impact the behavior of "African American" boys in relation to crime and delinquency, higher school dropout rates, increased usage and dependency on alcohol and drugs, and increased participation in gang violence.

Assumptions

It is assumed by the author of this research proposal that all prior research conducted on the subject matter of crime and delinquency is true and correct. It is further assumed that research and data gathered on the effects of an absent father on African American boys is also true and correct. Research suggests however that more specific research needs to be done in order to determine if additional variables