By Bernard Bond
Before I begin to write about this pressing issue, I want to let it be known I am NOT a male chauvinist by any means, I love women and respect women especially black women more than you could imagine, but I see a pressing issue within the new subculture of black women which is in effect HURTING not helping the black community as a whole.
Myself, as well as a friend of mine had a very in depth conversation yesterday about what is holding the black community back from developing economically. Some may say the inherent problem of racism, preditory lending, foreclosure, etc, etc, etc. Yes, this may be true to an extent, but what many African Amercans do not realize is that African Americans make up only 13% of the total population in the United States, yet spend 1 trillion dollars a year, the most of any race collectively. To me, that seems very odd, how is it we can spend 1 trillion dollars a year, yet be the most undeveloped race in America? They say money buys you power, well clearly together we have the buying power to change our status, so where is the problem? Now, there are amongst many other reasons as to why we have not developed and will possibly never develop anytime soon. I mean look at what African Americans thrive at Pop culture and sports..where are the thriving black businesses? We do not have BET anymore lol The Black Banks? There is no black bank in america that has more than 1 million dollars. But this in not what I want to discuss here, I went on a tangent excuse me lol
The independence complex
This is an idea that is diametrically opposed when comparing between male and female. A mans idea of independence is that of financial security with the realization and understanding that being self sufficient is wonderful yet there still needs to be a backbone or rope we must hang on to in case all that we worked for is gone in a second, we set up security nets for ourselves and still rely on others for support or help. Females on the other hand believe independence is doing everything on your own and basically burn your bridges that you they have made to get where they are. Independent successful black females believe in career first, family second. Thats good and all, but when your 50 and financially stable and decide to have children what are the chances that you’ll be able to have any? When your 50 and financially stable what do you have to show for yourself besides your successful careers?
This is where the problem lies in the black community. Look at the wealthiest black women in the United States. Oprah is a billionaire with NO children, Mariah Carey is a millionaire with no kids, Condelezza Rice former secretary of state with no kids, Janet Jackson is a millionaire with no kids, and various others (there are plenty more as well but no need to write this list to get my point across) But when you compare to the wealthiest white “Independent” women in the United States you see things like J.K. Rowling author of the Harry Potter Series millionaire with 3 kids, Madonna famouse artist with 3 kids, The Walton sisters between them 5 kids (richest women in the world), Abigail Johnson head of Fidelity Investments had 2 kids, Barbara Cox Anthony daughter of Cox Cable founder has 2 children. So when you compare across the board white women can be successful, and independent without sacrificing the family aspect of their lives. Whereas with the black women sense of the “Independence complex” believe career first family later which in effect hurts our community.
How does it hurt our community, look at it this way if Oprah had 1 child he or she would inherit her fortune right, if he or she inherits her fortune he or she could for one keep the money in the black community, use the money as groundwork for their success to continue the cycle of wealth and financial security within that family, then could have children who inherit Oprahs money as well as the new money Oprahs child could potentially make. Her family would be set for life, and the money stays in OUR community. But as of now Oprah has no next of kin so if she were to die tomorrow (god forbid) where would her money go? Same with the rest of the successful independent black womean listed above, WHERE WOULD IT GO? Its funny to see how african americans mainly african american females get upset when they see Sandra Bullock adopting a black baby or Angelina Jolie adopting a black baby yet these are the same females with no kids and do not wish to have children until they have their “Independence”. Yet, the females who are having these children are the black females who arent financially stable at all. We are perpetuating a cycle of regress rather than progress. Teen pregnancy kills the African American community. These teens have no foundation for development or anything to pass on to their children so these kids start of with nothing, but the women who do have the stability are reluctant to have children because of “FEAR”
The African American community has always been at a disadvantage to develop because we have never had anything to pass on to our children. i.e. PROPERTY! We wonder why other races make so much more than us and have so much more than us. Maybe its because they build wealth and pass it through generations. We as african americans build wealth and keep to ourselves or give to charity lol
Now Im not saying that black men do not have an independence complex as well, there are many issues within the black community that hold us back collectively, but this new movement of “Independent Black Woman” will do more harm than good in the long run. Because if the successful black women do not reproduce success, then where does that leave the rest of african american community who are unsuccessful and reproducing? Yes, everyone has the opportunity to be successful given whatever background or circumstance you come from in America, but there will be more considerable barriers and road blocks for those of unsuccessful black women compared to successful black women. For example, children born to teen mothers are 80% likely to be a teen parent as well. So when a black women has children at 16, that child is already at a disadvantage immediately given the mothers status as well as the fact they are already expected to get pregnant before they can even walk or talk.
Black women I am not saying you need a man or anything like that, but what I am saying is have some damn KIDS!! lol we need to perpetuate a cycle of success rather than regress. Please become successful black women but also realize that if you are a billionaire with no children you just add to the variables which hinder our community as a whole. So again HAVE SOME DAMN KIDS!! lol
