Why Successful African American Women are Essential

- Submission from MyfoxDC: http://media.myfoxdc.com/myvoice


By Brandon Whitney
Brandon is the creator of Homelandcolors.blogspot.com a blog that focuses on issues that affect the African American community. He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable. Brandon has political experience as an outreach director for the Democratic party and is passionate about being a positive force in his community. African American issues. He is also a frequent guest on News and Notes’ Blogger Roundtable.


NBC ran a series on African American Women that referred to their status in America. Some of it was negative, African American have a very low marriage rate compared to other races and can be at more risk for some diseases than others, but they are doing exceptionally well in the work place and educationally. Their pursuit of education is probably one of the best things brought to light by the news series. This is a fantastic thing because it is a major step towards solidly placing the bulk of African Americans into the middle and upper classes. Educated women mean educated children and the success of our people.

Both parents are important to the development of their children. I hesitate to assign roles to parents strictly on the basis of sex, but there have been traditional attitudes and behaviors that have usually been handled by one sex or the other. Social scientist have observed that in terms of educational development, mothers are extremely influential. A child's educational success is very dependent on theirs mothers attitude towards schooling.

The importance of mothers in education is why African Americans pursuit of bachelors and higher degrees is so significant. Women who pursue their education are more likely to produce children who do the same, both male and female. As education tends to lead to higher income, we could see the growth of the African American middle class as more women join corporate America and start their own businesses.

African American women's success is not bad for our people nor is it detrimental to African American men. Success in America is not a zero-sum game, both men and women can do well in this country. As our mothers, sisters, and daughters strive for success so can we. Many of us already have, and those who have not yet begun to reach for a brighter future are soon to be surrounded by plenty of examples who prove that it can be done.