Should Their Involvement with Black Children Be Supported?

1. Annotated Bibliography for Paper II – Due , 2020 (Worth 10-Points)
A. Do an annotated bibliography of at least 3 references that you are considering using in the paper. (Approximately 1 ½ pages)

2. Paper II – Due , 2020 (Worth 40-Points)
A. Write a 10-page double-spaced research paper on this topic that includes, but is not limited to responses to the statements and/or questions below.

Black children are less likely to live with their biological fathers than are children of other racial and ethnic groups. And, knowledge of the extent to which Black fathers and Black father figures are involved in the lives’ of Black children have been limited or non-existent in the fatherhood literature. Instead perceptions of their involvement appear to be based on commonly held negative stereotypes and myths. However, in those cases in which involvement exist, many of them are supported by their families and communities in the Black community “helping tradition” (Martin & Martin, 1985). At the time, these fathers confront challenging barriers to involvement. Going forward, should the involvement between Black fathers and father figures and Black children be supported? What issues should be considered?

a. Introduction:
Based on the current literature:
– What are the living arrangements of Black children?
– Provide an overview of what is known about the involvement of Black father’s and Black father figures in the lives of the Black children.
– Provide a profile of Black fathers and Black father figures and the diversity that exists among them, including residential and nonresidential Black fathers.
– Provide a profile of Black father figures (i.e., social fathers)

b. How do the “Africanity” theoretical model (Nobles et al, 1987) and Robert Hill (1999) “Holistic/Solutions” framework cited in McDougal et al, 2018 for studying the Black Family contribute to this analysis of Black father involvement in the lives’ of their children?

c. In what ways, is the involvement of these men in the lives’ of Black children consistent with traditional role expectations for father involvement?
– In what ways, is the involvement non-traditional?
– How do Black fathers perceive their involvement with their children?

d. When Black fathers and Black father figures are involved with Black children:
– What types of support do they receive from their families and communities?
– To what extent is that support in keeping with the “helping tradition” of the Black community?

e. Identify and discuss at least three barriers (i.e., societal, relationship with mother of the children, individual-level, systemic and services) that influence Black father involvement with their children?
– What variables help to explain the barriers?
– Can Critical Race Theory help explain the barriers?
– Individual father variables?

f. Based on the literature, is there evidence that Black father involvement is beneficial to Black children?

g. Going forward, should Black father and father figure involvement in the lives’ of Black children be supported?
– Are there any competing view?
– What issues need to be considered?

Reference:
Martin, Joanne M. and Martin, Elmer P. (1985). The Helping Tradition in the Black Family and Community. Silver Spring, Maryland: National Association of Social Workers, Inc.