An Analysis of the Life of African American Family

African Family Study - African American Family
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African Family Study - African American Family
1 What Are The Underlying Issues In Welfare Reform?
The key issues that plagued the welfare reform were the management issues since. For the nine turbulent years of its existence, the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) had management wrangles that threatened to derail its course. One of the critical things that plagued the organizations was that white men headed them while the membership was over 98% black women. George Wiley was an associate director who steered the organization for nine turbulent years. Most of the issues that plague the organization could be traced to Wiley. For example, he was not a competent leader, and he had no prior experience in leading a welfare organization, yet he was at the helm of the organization. Wiley was previously a former chemistry professor at Syracuse University who had resigned his position to become active in the civil rights movement (pg.13).
Secondly, unending leadership wrangles were opposing Wiley's leadership. For example, the members noted that Wiley had appointed a predominantly white top leadership team in the organization, which was mostly black. The author notes that 'the ratio of whites to blacks tipped in favor of whites' (pg.14).' Tilmon questioned the right of a white male who had never received welfare to assume leadership in a movement of welfare mothers (pg.13). Tilmon was a single mother who had been a beneficiary of the system and had headed another charity organization, Aid to Needy Children. On book, she would have been a better leader than Wiley. Additionally, black women's goals and objectives were divergent from Wiley's vision who believed in an integrationist approach. Ultimately, these issues plagued the welfare organization and eventually culminated in its failure.
2 Are African American mothers willing to work?
African mothers are willing to work, but some are not working because of sociopolitical and cultural issues that discriminate against them. Franklin and James note that some of the public perceptions of black women have denied them opportunities to succeed. For example, Franklin and James note that public impressions of African Americans were largely shaped by television and other forms of media (pg.2). These perceptions have been perpetuated by media and put black American mothers at a disadvantage when seeking work. They are not necessarily avoiding work, but they lack opportunities.
The African American mothers who have had opportunities to work often get discrimination against at the workplace. The employers fail to treat them according to merit, putting them in a disadvantaged position at the workplace. The white women with the same qualification are more privileged and often receive more opportunities. Such situations discourage African American mothers who are willing to work since they continue receiving lower workplace benefits. There are schemes at the labor market that aim to improve the welfare of workers continuously, but these schemes, in most cases, fail to favor African American mothers. The author notes that the increase in the earni...