by Michael Anderson

Created on: August 08, 2009

In this modern age, it is not uncommon to hear about African-American fathers who abandon their responsibilities. For reasons unknown, they let their personal issues cloud their judgment. As a result, the burden of playing both parental roles in a child's life rests solely on the mother. Even though the mother does the best she can to support the child financially and emotionally, a positive male role model is still needed to maintain balance within the family. A family is like a band, if the conductor is not there to lead, then the band is going to suffer because of poor leadership.

Mothers suffer from having to work more than one job to support their child or children. This in turn causes the mother to become more stressed than she already is. Human beings are a very perceptible and impressionable species, especially young children. They will undoubtedly pick up on the mother's anxiety that can create a cycle, causing the child to behave the same way. Many single mothers are unmarried and have limited college experience. In addition, single mothers more than likely end up living in poverty or still live with their own parents because she doesn't make enough to pay living and childcare expenses.

The children are also victimized as much as the mother. The lack of a father-daughter relationship can have drastic consequences. The girl can grow up with low self-esteem and a disregard for authority. Unfortunately, girls without paternal guidance end up becoming sexually active at a younger age compared to girls that have involved fathers in their lives. While it is sad to say, it is almost becoming a social norm to see an African- American female pregnant while still in her pre-teen or teen years of age.

A young male needs a role model to look up to, especially if he is African-American. Without a father, he is more likely to find relationships outside of the home that may have bad ties. More likely, he will end up in a gang related environment with others that have the same problem. Presently, there has been an increase of more young men going to prison and dropping out of school. Although it is sad, it is the bitter truth.

Here's the twist to the normal outcome of children with absentee fathers, they don't have to be that way. I am an African-American male at the young age of twenty. According to statistics, by now I should have a criminal record, dropped out of high school, joined a gang, have

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